Safeway Recalls Ground Beef in Arizona and New Mexico

PLEASANTON, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--In cooperation with Beef Packers, Inc.’s (Cargill) recall of 22,000 pounds of fresh ground beef that may be linked to an outbreak of Salmonella, Safeway Inc. is recalling fresh ground beef products with “Sell By” dates of September 28 through October 11, 2009. The recall affects all stores in Arizona and one store in New Mexico in the city of Gallup.

While the recalled product is no longer in stores, Safeway is asking its customers to check all ground beef in their freezers. The recall includes fresh ground beef products sold during the dates listed above at the full-service counter in brown butcher paper and at the self-service area wrapped on black Styrofoam trays. These products include fresh ground beef, fresh ground beef patties, fresh meat balls, fresh meat loaf and fresh bell peppers stuffed with beef and pork. These products should be discarded or returned for a full refund.

Consumption of food contaminated with Salmonella Newport can cause salmonellosis. Salmonella Newport infections can be life-threatening, especially to those with weak immune systems, infants, the elderly, and persons undergoing chemotherapy. This particular strain of Salmonella Newport is resistant to many commonly prescribed drugs, which can increase the risk of hospitalization or possible treatment failure in infected individuals. The most common symptoms of salmonellosis are diarrhea, abdominal cramps, and fever within eight to 72 hours. Additional symptoms may include chills, headache, nausea and vomiting that can last up to seven days.

Safeway is committed to providing safe, wholesome products for its customers. The company employs rigorous food safety standards in stores and insists on the same level of commitment from suppliers and vendors. Safeway’s food safety standards and practices are among the most stringent in the industry.

The US Department of Agriculture recommends the following measures for Preventing Salmonellosis:

• Wash hands with warm, soapy water for at least 20 seconds before and after handling raw meat and poultry. Also wash cutting boards, dishes and utensils with hot soapy water. Clean up spills right away.
• Keep raw meat, fish and poultry away from other food that will not be cooked. Use separate cutting boards for raw meat, poultry and egg products and cooked foods.
• Cook raw meat and poultry to safe internal temperatures before eating. The safe internal temperature for meat such as beef and pork is 160º F, and 165º F for poultry, as determined with a food thermometer.
• Refrigerate raw meat and poultry within two hours after purchase (one hour if temperatures exceed 90º F). Refrigerate cooked meat and poultry within two hours after cooking.

Consumers seeking additional information regarding the recall can contact Beef Packers Inc. (Cargill) at 877-435-4071. Members of the media can call Beef Packers Inc 952-742-6211. Safeway customers can contact 1-800-SAFEWAY for more information about their specific product. Consumers with food safety questions can “Ask Karen,” the FSIS virtual representative available 24 hours a day at AskKaren.gov. 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.