Giant Food Recalls Giant Ground Beef with Use-by/Freeze-by Dates of Oct. 31 and Nov. 3, 2007

Giant Food is recalling Giant ground beef with use-by/freeze-by dates of Oct. 31 and Nov. 3. The Giant recall is part of a larger nationwide recall by Cargill Meat Solutions, which is a supplier of Giant fresh ground beef. Cargill has issued a Class I recall for 1,084,384 pounds of ground beef because it has the potential to be contaminated with Escherichia coli 0157:H7 bacteria (E. coli). Giant Food is one of several retailers affected by the Cargill recall. Approximately 6,000 pounds of Giant fresh ground beef with use-by/freeze-by dates of Oct. 31 and Nov. 3 are implicated in Cargill's recall. Upon being notified of the recall, Giant immediately removed all affected products from its shelves.

Giant has received no reports of illness associated with consumption of these products. Because of the potential hazard of foodborne illness, Giant is urging any customer who purchased fresh ground beef with a use-by/freeze-by dates of Oct. 31 and Nov. 3, and has a portion of it remaining, to remove it from the refrigerator or freezer and return it to the store for a full refund.

Symptoms of E.coli O157:H7 exposure could include stomach cramps and diarrhea, including diarrhea with bloody stools. Although most healthy adults can recover completely within a week, some people can develop a form of kidney failure called Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome (HUS). HUS is most likely to occur in young children and the elderly. If any of the described symptoms are exhibited, medical attention should be sought.

Customers with questions may phone Cargill at (877) 455-1034 or Giant Food Customer Service at (888) 469-4426, press option 1, option 1 again and then extension 4313.

Giant Food

Giant Food LLC, headquartered in Landover, MD, operates 185 supermarkets in Virginia, Maryland, Delaware, and the District of Columbia, and employs more than 22,000 associates. Included within the 185 stores are 165 full-service pharmacies. For more on Giant, visit http://www.giantfood.com. Giant is owned by Netherlands-based Ahold.