Safeway recalls ground beef sold in nine states

In cooperation with Beef Packers Inc’s recall of 825,769 pounds of ground beef that may be linked to a salmonellosis outbreak, Safeway Inc is recalling fresh ground beef products sold between June 6 and July 14, 2009. The recall affects stores in Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, South Dakota, and Wyoming.

While the recalled product is no longer in stores, Safeway is asking its customers to check all ground beef in their freezers. Fresh ground beef products sold at both the full service counter and in the self-service area, with the sell-by dates listed above, should be discarded or returned for a full refund. These products include fresh ground beef, fresh ground beef patties, and fresh meat loaf.

Consumption of food contaminated with Salmonella Newport can cause salmonellosis, one of the most common bacterial foodborne illnesses. Salmonella Newport infections can be life-threatening, especially to those with weak immune systems, such as infants, the elderly, and persons with HIV infection or undergoing chemotherapy.

Safeway customers can contact 1-800-SAFEWAY for more information. 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 1-888-674-6854 is available in English and Spanish and can be reached from l0 am to 4 pm (Eastern Time) Monday through Friday.