Pleasanton-Based Safeway Fails Food Recall Response Report

PLEASANTON, CA — Pleasanton-based grocery chain Safeway earned a failing grade in a recent survey of the country's biggest supermarket chains over food recall policies.

Safeway was one of 22 chains that earned an "F" in a 32-page report released Wednesday by nonprofit Public Interest Research Group. Trader Joe's, Whole Foods, Walmart and Albertsons also failed.

Albertsons Company, which owns Safeway and Albertsons, denounced the report in a statement.

"We meet all regulatory requirements and, in many cases, go above and beyond the regulatory requirements for product recall notification," Albertsons Company said.

Target was among the four chains that earned a passing "C" grade, and no "A"s, "B"s or "D"s were awarded. "C"s were awarded to chains that provided information about recall notification policies to the public.

"Unfortunately, most stores declined to answer the survey — and the few respondents only answered a handful of questions. This response is insufficient," PIRG wrote. "Consumers have a right to know about food recalls to protect their health from dangerous pathogens, chunks of metal, and unlabeled allergens."

Laura Deehan, a health advocate with the CALPIRG Education Fund, said shoppers looking for information "must go on a nearly impossible scavenger hunt" to figure out whether they've bought contaminated food. Stores track customers and target them with ads, so they should be able to keep customers healthy, she said.

The nation's food recalls for meat, poultry and egg products are issued by the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service. Recalls for other food, including pet and animal feed, are issued by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Those agencies, as well as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which tracks food-borne illnesses, rely heavily on media outlets to alert the public during a recall.

Stores should be required by the federal government to post food recall notification policies on their websites, directly alert customers within 48 hours and post signs at cash registers and on store shelves after an incident.

Albertsons Company said it issues press releases with information about recalls for private label products and posts them on its website. The company also said signs are posted at checkout, customer service personnel are always available to provide recall information, and grocery delivery and loyalty customers are notified via email.

The company also said it posts the following links to the following government websites on its own site: U.S. Food and Drug Administration, USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service, United States Consumer Product Safety Commission and Recalls.gov.

Read the full report here.

— Bay City News contributed to this report

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