On the heels of the USDA identifying Nebraska Beef Ltd. as the supplier of ground beef products that were linked to E. coli-tainted ground beef sold in Michigan and central and northern Ohio Kroger stores, Kroger expanded its recall to include ground beef products in foam tray packages wrapped in clear cellophane, or purchased from an in-store service counter from certain stores.

The grocer is also recalling its Private Selection Natural ground beef, which was available at all Kroger stores, sold in 16-ounce packages from the self-service meat case.

The expanded recall came after the U.S. Department of Agriculture informed the company that Nebraska Beef had been identified as the supplier of the ground beef products linked to E. coli illnesses in Michigan and central and northern Ohio, which had prompted the initial recall last week.

The chain said there are various sell-by dates on the ground beef being recalled due to different Nebraska Beef production dates. As of yesterday, the latest list of recalled products included items with these labels and sell-by dates:
Fred Meyer, May 21-July 5
QFC, May 21-July 5
Kroger stores, May 21-July 3
Kroger Mid-Atlantic, May 19-June 6
Fry's, May 21-July 3
Ralphs, May 21-July 3
Smith's, May 21-July 3
Baker's, May 17-June 4
King Soopers, June 20-July 3
City Market, June 20-July 3

Excluded in the recall are Kroger stores in Georgia, South Carolina, Alabama, and Knoxville, Tenn.; and Kroger's Mid-Atlantic division, which includes stores in North Carolina, Northeastern Tennessee, Virginia and West Virginia. Further, Kroger stores in Georgia, South Carolina, Alabama and Knoxville, Tenn., are not involved in the recall of ground beef in foam trays or from in-store service counters.

In addition to the ground beef described above, Kroger said it is recalling Private Selection Natural ground beef sold in 16-ounce packages that were in the self-service meat case. The "sell by" date 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.

Kroger said it has removed all ground beef supplied by Nebraska Beef during the dates provided by the USDA and has placed signs in stores in meat departments. The Cincinnati-based chain is also using its register receipt notification system that alerts customers about recalls of products they may have purchased.

Every store involved in the recall has also been instructed to discard the ground beef products in question, and thoroughly clean and sanitize all equipment used to prepare ground beef for sale, the grocer said.