Albertsons Companies Voluntarily Recalls 12 ReadyMeals and Store-Made Deli Items Containing a Recalled Chicken Ingredient Supplied by Fresh Creative Foods Due to Possible Listeria Monocytogenes Contamination

Rhea-AI Summary

Albertsons Companies has voluntarily recalled 12 types of ReadyMeals and store-made deli items due to possible Listeria monocytogenes contamination. The recall was initiated after Fresh Creative Foods, a division of Reser's Fine Foods, Inc., discovered that these products contain a recalled ready-to-eat chicken ingredient supplied by BrucePac of Durant, Okla. The affected items were available for purchase at various Albertsons-owned stores across 21 states.

Consumers are urged not to consume these products and to return them to their local store for a full refund. The recall includes items such as street tacos, enchiladas, and salads with sell-through dates up to October 13, 2024. Customers with questions can contact Albertsons Companies' Customer Service Center at 1-877-723-3929.

Positive

• None.

Negative

• Potential loss of revenue from recalled products
• Possible damage to brand reputation due to food safety concerns
• Risk of legal liability if consumers become ill from contaminated products

Insights

Food Safety Expert

This recall is a significant food safety issue affecting multiple products across several states. The potential contamination with Listeria monocytogenes is particularly concerning due to its severe health risks, especially for vulnerable populations. The wide distribution across 21 states and multiple store brands increases the recall's impact.

The recall's scope, covering 12 different ReadyMeals and deli items with sell-through dates extending to October 2024, suggests a potentially long-term contamination issue in the supply chain. This could lead to increased scrutiny of Albertsons' supplier vetting processes and quality control measures.

While the financial impact may be in the short term, the potential for reputational damage and loss of consumer trust is substantial. Albertsons' proactive approach in issuing the voluntary recall may help mitigate some negative effects, but the company will need to demonstrate enhanced food safety protocols to reassure customers and regulators.

Retail Analyst

This recall, while concerning from a food safety standpoint, is unlikely to have a significant financial impact on Albertsons Companies in the short term. Ready-made meals and deli items typically represent a small portion of overall sales for large supermarket chains.

However, the incident highlights potential vulnerabilities in Albertsons' supply chain and quality control processes. The company may need to invest in strengthening these areas, which could impact profitability margins in the near future.

The recall's widespread nature, affecting multiple brands across 21 states, demonstrates the complexity of Albertsons' operations and the challenges in maintaining consistent quality across its vast network. This event may prompt a review of supplier relationships and could lead to more stringent, potentially costly, quality assurance measures throughout the supply chain.

BOISE, Idaho--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Following a recall initiated by Fresh Creative Foods, a division of Reser’s Fine Foods, Inc., Albertsons Companies has voluntarily recalled 12 types of ReadyMeals and store-made deli items, supplied by Fresh Creative Foods, due to possible Listeria monocytogenes contamination. The recall was initiated because these products contain a recalled ready-to-eat chicken ingredient supplied by BrucePac of Durant, Okla., which was found to be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes during routine tests by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS). You can find the FSIS recall notice here.

Listeria monocytogenes is an organism that can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people and others with weakened immune systems. Although healthy individuals may suffer only short-term symptoms such as high fever, severe headache, stiffness, nausea, abdominal pain and diarrhea, Listeria infection can cause miscarriages and stillbirths among pregnant women. Listeriosis is treated with antibiotics. People in the higher-risk categories who experience flu-like symptoms within two months after eating contaminated food should seek medical care and tell the health care provider about eating the contaminated food.

Consumers who have purchased these items are urged not to consume these products and to dispose of them or return the items to their local store for a full refund. Anyone concerned about an injury or illness should contact a health care provider.

The ReadyMeals and store-made deli items were available for purchase at the following stores: Albertsons, Carrs-Safeway, Eagle, Jewel-Osco, Pavilions, Randalls, Safeway, Shaw's, Star Market, Tom Thumb and Vons. These stores are located in Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Louisiana, Maine, Massachusetts, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Mexico, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Washington and Wyoming.

Consumers with questions should contact Albertsons Companies’ Customer Service Center at 1-877-723-3929 Monday through Friday from 5 a.m. to 9 p.m. PST.

Product Recall Details:
Product Name	UPC	Size	Sell Thru Dates	Store Banners	States
READY MEALS STREET TACOS CHICKEN SS COLD	27131600000	Each	All Sell Thru dates up to and including Oct. 13, 2024	Albertsons, Carrs-Safeway, Eagle, Jewel-Osco, Pavilions, Randalls, Safeway, Shaw's, Star Market, Tom Thumb, Vons	AK, AR, AZ, CA, IA, ID, IL, IN, LA, MA, ME, NH, NM, NV, RI, SD, TX, UT, VT, WA, WY
READY MEALS STREET TACO MEAL CKN ASADA SS COLD	29939100000	Each	All Sell Thru dates up to and including Oct. 13, 2024	Albertsons, Carrs-Safeway, Eagle, Jewel-Osco, Pavilions, Randalls, Safeway, Shaw's, Star Market, Tom Thumb, Vons	AK, AR, AZ, CA, IA, ID, IL, IN, LA, MA, ME, NH, NM, NV, RI, SD, TX, UT, VT, WA, WY
READY MEALS ENCHILADA CHICKEN GREEN CHILI SS COLD	21291600000	Each	All Sell Thru dates up to and including Oct. 13, 2024	Albertsons, Carrs-Safeway, Eagle, Jewel-Osco, Pavilions, Randalls, Safeway, Shaw's, Star Market, Tom Thumb, Vons	AK, AR, AZ, CA, IA, ID, IL, IN, LA, MA, ME, NH, NM, NV, RI, SD, TX, UT, VT, WA, WY
READY MEALS STREET TACO MEAL CHICKEN SM SS COLD	27179600000	Each	All Sell Thru dates up to and including Oct. 13, 2024	Albertsons, Carrs-Safeway, Eagle, Jewel-Osco, Pavilions, Randalls, Safeway, Shaw's, Star Market, Tom Thumb, Vons	AK, AR, AZ, CA, IA, ID, IL, IN, LA, MA, ME, NH, NM, NV, RI, SD, TX, UT, VT, WA, WY
ENCHILADA CHICKEN GREEN 6CT SS COLD	27163500000	Each	All Sell Thru dates up to and including Oct. 13, 2024	Albertsons, Carrs-Safeway, Eagle, Jewel-Osco, Pavilions, Randalls, Safeway, Shaw's, Star Market, Tom Thumb, Vons	AK, AR, AZ, CA, IA, ID, IL, IN, LA, MA, ME, NH, NM, NV, RI, SD, TX, UT, VT, WA, WY
SALAD GINGER CHICKEN BROCCOLI FS	27110800000	1 LB	All Sell Thru dates up to and including Oct. 13, 2024	Albertsons, Carrs-Safeway, Eagle, Jewel-Osco, Pavilions, Randalls, Safeway, Shaw's, Star Market, Tom Thumb, Vons	AK, AR, AZ, CA, IA, ID, IL, IN, LA, MA, ME, NH, NM, NV, RI, SD, TX, UT, VT, WA, WY
READY MEALS SALAD GINGER CHICKEN BROCCOLI SS	29105700000	Each	All Sell Thru dates up to and including Oct. 13, 2024	Albertsons, Carrs-Safeway, Eagle, Jewel-Osco, Pavilions, Randalls, Safeway, Shaw's, Star Market, Tom Thumb, Vons	AK, AR, AZ, CA, IA, ID, IL, IN, LA, MA, ME, NH, NM, NV, RI, SD, TX, UT, VT, WA, WY
SALAD CHICKEN GINGER BROCCOLI FS	29233600000	1 LB	All Sell Thru dates up to and including Oct. 13, 2024	Albertsons, Carrs-Safeway, Eagle, Jewel-Osco, Pavilions, Randalls, Safeway, Shaw's, Star Market, Tom Thumb, Vons	AK, AR, AZ, CA, IA, ID, IL, IN, LA, MA, ME, NH, NM, NV, RI, SD, TX, UT, VT, WA, WY
SALAD CAESAR CHICKEN FS	29130700000	1 LB	All Sell Thru dates up to and including Oct. 11, 2024	Albertsons, Carrs-Safeway, Eagle, Jewel-Osco, Pavilions, Randalls, Safeway, Shaw's, Star Market, Tom Thumb, Vons	AK, AR, AZ, CA, IA, ID, IL, IN, LA, MA, ME, NH, NM, NV, RI, SD, TX, UT, VT, WA, WY
BOWL CAESAR CHICKEN	29125500000	Each	All Sell Thru dates up to and including Oct. 11, 2024	Albertsons, Carrs-Safeway, Eagle, Jewel-Osco, Pavilions, Randalls, Safeway, Shaw's, Star Market, Tom Thumb, Vons	AK, AR, AZ, CA, IA, ID, IL, IN, LA, MA, ME, NH, NM, NV, RI, SD, TX, UT, VT, WA, WY
READY MEALS SALAD CAESAR CHICKEN SS	21139700000	1 LB	All Sell Thru dates up to and including Oct. 11, 2024	Albertsons, Carrs-Safeway, Eagle, Jewel-Osco, Pavilions, Randalls, Safeway, Shaw's, Star Market, Tom Thumb, Vons	AK, AR, AZ, CA, IA, ID, IL, IN, LA, MA, ME, NH, NM, NV, RI, SD, TX, UT, VT, WA, WY
READY MEALS ASIAN STIR FRY SS COLD	21296500000	1 LB	All Sell Thru dates up to and including Oct. 13, 2024	Albertsons, Carrs-Safeway, Eagle, Jewel-Osco, Pavilions, Randalls, Safeway, Shaw's, Star Market, Tom Thumb, Vons	AK, AR, AZ, CA, IA, ID, IL, IN, LA, MA, ME, NH, NM, NV, RI, SD, TX, UT, VT, WA, WY

Category: Product Recall

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241011727452/en/

media@albertsons.com

Source: Albertsons Companies, Inc.

FAQ

What products are affected by Albertsons Companies' (ACI) recent recall?

Albertsons Companies has recalled 12 types of ReadyMeals and store-made deli items, including street tacos, enchiladas, and various salads, due to possible Listeria monocytogenes contamination.

Why did Albertsons Companies (ACI) issue this recall?

The recall was issued because the products contain a recalled ready-to-eat chicken ingredient supplied by BrucePac of Durant, Okla., which was found to be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes during routine tests by the USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service.

What should customers do with the recalled Albertsons Companies (ACI) products?

Customers who have purchased the recalled items are urged not to consume them and to either dispose of the products or return them to their local store for a full refund.

Which Albertsons Companies (ACI) stores are affected by this recall?

The recall affects products sold at Albertsons, Carrs-Safeway, Eagle, Jewel-Osco, Pavilions, Randalls, Safeway, Shaw's, Star Market, Tom Thumb, and Vons stores across 21 states.