Kroger Recalls Additional Select Ice Cream Product Due to Possible Health Risk

The Kroger Co. (NYSE: KR) said today it is recalling the "Light" version of its Private Selection Light Peanut Butter Passion Ice Cream sold in select stores because the product was associated with peanut butter supplied by Peanut Corporation of America and may be contaminated with Salmonella. Stores under the following names are included in this recall: City Market, Fred Meyer, Fry's, King Soopers, QFC and Smith's. This is an expansion of a recall Kroger initiated Monday, January 19.

Stores the company operates under the following names did not receive any of the ice cream being recalled: Kroger, Ralphs, Dillons, Food 4 Less, Foods Co., Jay C, Scott's, Owen's, Baker's, Gerbes, Hilander and Pay Less.

No illnesses have been reported in connection with the ice cream.

Item Descriptions:

Kroger is recalling the following ice cream:

* Private Selection Peanut Butter Passion Light Ice Cream sold in 1.75 quart (56-ounce containers under the UPC Code Number: 1111054016 with a "Sell by" date of 8-13-09 followed by 49-70.

This is in addition to the following items Kroger recalled on Monday, January 19:

* Private Selection Peanut Butter Passion Ice Cream sold in 1.75 quart (56-ounce) containers under the UPC Code Number: 0001111052816 with a "Sell by" date of 8-13-09 followed by 49-70. Please note this "Sell by" date corrects the "Sell by" date previously announced of 8-11-09.
* Private Selection Peanut Butter Passion Ice Cream sold in 48-ounce containers with a "Sell by" date of 9-13-09 under the following UPC Code Number: 0001111054437.

The ice cream was sold in City Market, Fred Meyer, Fry's, King Soopers, QFC and Smith's stores in the following states: Alaska, Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington and Wyoming.

Customers who have recently purchased this ice cream should not eat it and return the product to a store for a full refund or replacement.

The FDA has indicated that Peanut Corporation of America is the focus of its investigation into Salmonella-related illnesses that may be linked to contaminated peanut butter. For more information, please visit the FDA's website at www.fda.gov.

No other Kroger products are involved in the recall. Kroger continues to follow FDA guidelines and, for the safety of customers, has withdrawn other products from sale that contain peanut butter ingredients implicated in this outbreak, as directed by the FDA and suppliers involved.

Salmonella is an organism that can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections, particularly in young children, the elderly, and persons with weakened immune systems. Healthy persons infected with Salmonella often experience fever, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting and/or abdominal pain. For more information, please visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's website at www.cdc.gov.

According to the FDA, peanut butter sold in jars, including Kroger brand peanut butter sold in the retailer's family of stores, is not involved in the ongoing investigation.

Consumers who have questions about the ice cream recall may contact Kroger toll-free at (800) 632-6900. For more information, please visit www.kroger.com/recalls.