Consumer Advisory: State Agriculture Director Issues Food Safety Alert for Potato Salad

Consumer Advisory: State Agriculture Director Issues Food Safety Alert
for Potato Salad


Contact:
Communications Office
614-752-9817

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE -- August 31, 2007 -- Ohio Department of
Agriculture (ODA) Director Robert Boggs in conjunction with The Kroger
Co. today advises consumers not to consume Kroger brand Mustard or
Southern-Style potato salad with a "Best If Used By" date of Sept. 5,
2007, because it may contain E. coli O157:H7.

ODA's Consumer Analytical Laboratory tested a sample of the Kroger brand
Mustard or Southern-style potato salad collected during routine food
safety sampling, and found it positive for E. coli O157:H7, a foodborne
pathogen.

To date, no illnesses have been reported, and additional samples
analyzed by a certified, thirdparty laboratory contracted by Kroger have
tested negative for E. coli O157:H7. As a precautionary measure, The
Kroger Co. has removed the product from sale. The company encourages
consumers to check their refrigerators and freezers for this specific
product and, if found, to return it to the store for a full refund.

For more information regarding this product withdrawal, please visit
www.kroger.com .

Through ODA's Division of Food Safety, the department helps assure
consumers are provided foods, over-the-counter drugs, dietary
supplements, and cosmetics that are safe, unadulterated, and honestly
presented. Random, routine testing at the department's Consumer
Analytical Laboratory helps identify potentially dangerous or
adulterated products. In addition to advising consumers, the department
has notified the Food and Drug Administration and local health
departments.