Kroger has expanded a recent beef recall to include packaged ground beef sold at Kroger stores in Knoxville...

Kroger is recalling Private Selection Natural ground beef sold in 16 oz. packages that were in the selfservice meat case. The “sell by” dates for this product is July 11 through July 21, 2008. The product was available at all Kroger stores (including Kroger Mid-Atlantic and stores in Georgia, South Carolina, Alabama and Knoxville, Tenn.) and Dillons, Fred Meyer, Baker’s, Smith’s and Fry’s.

What Customers Should Do:

Kroger is asking customers to carefully check the ground beef they have at home in their refrigerators and freezers. If they have any products covered in this recall, they should return the product to a store for a full refund or replacement.

What Kroger Is Doing:

Kroger has expanded the recall due to new information provided by the USDA. This information links product produced by Nebraska Beef to the illnesses. As a precaution, Kroger is removing all ground beef supplied by Nebraska Beef during the dates provided by the USDA.

The following items are not included in this recall: ground beef sold in sealed tubes in one, three or five-pound packages and frozen ground beef patties sold in the frozen food section of its stores.

More information here.

UPDATE:

In light of new information about Nebraska Beef, The Kroger Co. reassured customers today that ground beef currently for sale in its stores is from other suppliers. None of the ground beef involved in the Nebraska Beef recall is available in Kroger's family of stores.

Kroger began notifying customers about the Nebraska Beef recall last week by using several notification systems, including signs in stores and its register receipt notification system that alerts customers about recalls of products they may have purchased.

Kroger has asked customers to carefully check ground beef they have at home in their refrigerators and freezers for the "sell-by" dates previously announced which are generally between May 17 through July 3*. Kroger is recalling ground beef products in Styrofoam tray packages wrapped in clear cellophane or purchased from an in-store service counter. If they have any products covered in this recall, they should return the product to a store for a full refund or replacement. More information about the recall is available at www.kroger.com/recalls.

Customers of Kroger stores in North Carolina, Northeastern Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia should check for ground beef products with "sell-by" dates of May 19 through July 3. This is a change in dates.

Nebraska Beef's expanded recall includes ground beef products described above sold in Dillons, Baker's and Gerbes stores in Kansas, Missouri and Nebraska with "sell-by" dates of May 17 through July 3. These products have already been removed from stores.

Consumers who have questions about the recall may contact Kroger toll-free at (800) 632-6900.