For Immediate Release

Boise, ID, September 24, 2012 – In conjunction with the recently expanded recall of ground beef products imported to the U.S. from Canada by XL Foods, Inc. due to possible E. coli contamination, Albertsons is voluntarily recalling multiple ground beef items sold from all stores in Washington and Oregon, as well as three stores in Northern Idaho: Coeur D Alene, Hayden and Lewiston. Interstate Meat Distributors has informed Albertsons that certain products distributed to Albertsons stores in these areas contain beef that is subject to the expanded recall. No other Albertsons stores are impacted by the current recall.

The following products sold from Albertsons’ full service counters at the customer’s request or sold in packaged form with an Albertsons store label in our stores from 9/3/12 through 9/21/12 are subject to this recall:

• All raw ground beef products sold through the full service counter case at the customer’s request and store-packaged ground beef products purchased from 9/3/12 through 9/21/12.

Additionally, the following pre-packaged products are subject to the recall:

• Fresh Ground Beef Patties 80/20, 1 LB, UPC: 7-52907-60030, USE BY Date: 9/11/12
• Fresh Ground Beef Chub 73/27, 1 LB, UPC: 7-52907-18271, USE BY Date: 9/18/12 & 9/21/12
• Fresh Ground Beef Chub 73/27, 3 LB, UPC: 7-52907-18251, USE BY Date: 9/18/12 & 9/21/12

Customers are urged to check their freezers for the specified products above and return them to their local Albertsons store for a full refund or replacement. 

Affected products are no longer available for sale in any Albertsons stores, and no illnesses linked to products sold at Albertsons have been reported. Albertsons customers with questions about this issue should call Albertsons Customer Care at 1-877-932-7948.

More information regarding the USDA investigation of this issue is available via the following link: http://www.fsis.usda.gov/News_&_Events/NR_092012_01/index.asp. Consumers with additional food safety questions can also contact the toll-free USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline 1-888-MPHotline (1-888-674-6854) is available in English and Spanish and can be reached from l0 a.m. to 4 p.m. (Eastern Time) Monday through Friday. Recorded food safety messages are available 24 hours a day.

About ALBERTSONS

Albertsons stores were founded in 1939 and currently operate 443 Albertsons and Lucky® supermarkets in Southern California, Southern Nevada, Idaho, Montana, North Dakota, Oregon, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming. For more information about Albertsons, visit our web site at www.albertsons.com