MONTVALE, NJ – OCTOBER 4, 2002 – The Great Atlantic & Pacific Tea Company, Inc. (A&P, NYSE:GAP) is voluntarily recalling fresh ground beef products purchased in its stores with sell-by dates from August 23 through September 11, in connection with the expanded recall announced this week by its supplier, EMMPAK Foods, Inc., which does business as Peck Meats.

A&P’s action is directed to customers of Company-operated stores under the following banners:  A&P, Waldbaum’s, Farmer Jack, Kohl’s, Super Fresh, The Food Emporium and Sav-A-Center, in the states of Michigan, Ohio, Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, Maryland, New Jersey, Delaware, Virginia, Mississippi, Louisiana, New York, New Jersey,  Connecticut and the District of Columbia.   The recall applies to packages of ground meat labeled as ground beef, ground hamburger, ground chuck, ground sirloin, ground round, lean ground beef, hamburger patties and meat loaf, all packaged under the store banner labels listed above, or under the Company’s Master Choice label.

Richard P. De Santa, Vice President of Corporate Affairs for A&P, said  “EMMPAK Foods has notified us that the ground beef recall it announced previously has now been expanded to include a greater number of products shipped to retail stores, as well as to hotels, restaurants and other institutions nationwide.”  Last week, EMMPAK’s Peck Meats had voluntarily recalled a limited number of products after public health officials from the USDA and the state of Minnesota identified food-borne illness associated with an E. coli 0157:H7 outbreak in Minnesota. 

“To safeguard our customers, we are asking that they check their freezers for ground beef products purchased in our stores with sell-buy dates ranging from August 23 through September 11, and to return them to the stores for a full refund,” De Santa said.

In addition, the Company urged consumers to maintain safe food handling practices, including proper refrigeration and/or freezing; using a thermometer to ensure that ground beef is fully cooked to 160 degrees Fahrenheit; and washing hands whenever preparing or otherwise handling any meat product. 

Founded in 1859, The Great Atlantic & Pacific Tea Company, Inc. was one of the nation’s first supermarket chains, and is today one of North America’s 10 largest.  The Company operates approximately 700 stores in 14 states, the District of Columbia and Ontario, Canada under the following trade names:  A&P, Waldbaum’s, The Food Emporium, Super Foodmart, Super Fresh, Farmer Jack, Kohl’s, Sav-A-Center, Dominion, The Barn Markets, Food Basics and Ultra Food & Drug.  The Company also manufactures and distributes the Eight O’Clock line of whole bean coffees.

Contact:

Richard P. De Santa
Vice President, Corporate Affairs
201-571-4495

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