Kroger's checkout-based warning system for recalls on clarkhoward.com

Food safety is now front and center in the public's mind following the recent peanut scare.

Clark is a Costco Wholesale member and was recently alerted by the warehouse club that a box of Clif Bars he purchased had been recalled. Some people say there's a creep-out factor to Costco knowing everything that every member ever bought, but in this case, it was a very good thing.

Yet what if you bought a recalled product anonymously at a supermarket?

Grocery retailer Kroger is experimenting with a checkout-based solution at its Ralphs and Food for Less locations across the country.

If a recalled item is scanned, the register will actually block the sale and issue an audible warning, according to The Los Angeles Times.

There is some pushback in the industry over this issue. Retailers see it as just one more thing to deal with in their chain of responsibility.

But you have a right to have a safe food supply, especially if you have children. Clark hopes the sheer pressure of market share will prompt other chains to follow Kroger's lead.

What others are saying

recall
Walmart is doing that a while back. I think stores would not knowingly sell you recall items, but just had not yet taken items off the shelves, sometimes items still shows up even the shelves are empty, people just put them everywhere. But for people that already bought the goods, there is no way for stores to track you down unless you at a membership club or such.
By mrlee @ 03/28/09 11:25:31 AMreport abuse
Recalled items
I definitely agree with blocking the purchase of a recalled item at the cash register. I've had food poisoning and nearly lost my life. It saves you and me to block bad food from being purchased and it saves the retailer from liability. Good Move Kroger and Walmart!
By Jerry @ 03/28/09 10:56:10 AMreport abuse
So....some stores would rather be known as a store that would sell me dangerous food than one that cares whether I live or die to shop with them another day? Silly to fight back on something like that.
By anonymous @ 03/24/09 12:11:22 PMreport abuse
Food Recall
Wal-mart is doing this as well. I was at the register last night and the scanner found a box of cereal that was recalled.
By Bill Cowell @ 03/24/09 11:15:04 AMreport abuse
It works
In a recent trip to Kroger I had an item come up as recalled and they pulled the item off the belt and wouldn't sell it. The system works.
By Cdog @ 03/24/09 08:52:00 AMreport abuse
Recalls
I worked in the Grocery Business for 28 years and we always without delay pulled any and all items in a recall. The items were never left on the shelves for sell. Sometimes before the store was notified customers may have already purchased the items that were recalled. I suppose in a perfect world the items would have never been shipped to the store for sale!!!
By Jerry @ 03/23/09 07:16:56 PMreport abuse
Recalls
I got a letter from Sam's Club to notify me that their records showed that I had bought ZonePerfect bars, and some of them had been recalled, so I should check my pantry in case some should be returned. I was thankful for it. Personally, I think the items should never even make it to the check-out - the retailer should pull them from their shelves immediately.
By Eric K. @ 03/23/09 04:27:04 PMreport abuse

recall

Walmart is doing that a while back. I think stores would not knowingly sell you recall items, but just had not yet taken items off the shelves, sometimes items still shows up even the shelves are empty, people just put them everywhere. But for people that already bought the goods, there is no way for stores to track you down unless you at a membership club or such.

By mrlee @ 03/28/09 11:25:31 AMreport abuse

Recalled items

I definitely agree with blocking the purchase of a recalled item at the cash register. I've had food poisoning and nearly lost my life. It saves you and me to block bad food from being purchased and it saves the retailer from liability. Good Move Kroger and Walmart!

By Jerry @ 03/28/09 10:56:10 AMreport abuse

So....some stores would rather be known as a store that would sell me dangerous food than one that cares whether I live or die to shop with them another day? Silly to fight back on something like that.

By anonymous @ 03/24/09 12:11:22 PMreport abuse

Food Recall

Wal-mart is doing this as well. I was at the register last night and the scanner found a box of cereal that was recalled.

By Bill Cowell @ 03/24/09 11:15:04 AMreport abuse

It works

In a recent trip to Kroger I had an item come up as recalled and they pulled the item off the belt and wouldn't sell it. The system works.

By Cdog @ 03/24/09 08:52:00 AMreport abuse

Recalls

I worked in the Grocery Business for 28 years and we always without delay pulled any and all items in a recall. The items were never left on the shelves for sell. Sometimes before the store was notified customers may have already purchased the items that were recalled. I suppose in a perfect world the items would have never been shipped to the store for sale!!!

By Jerry @ 03/23/09 07:16:56 PMreport abuse

I got a letter from Sam's Club to notify me that their records showed that I had bought ZonePerfect bars, and some of them had been recalled, so I should check my pantry in case some should be returned. I was thankful for it. Personally, I think the items should never even make it to the check-out - the retailer should pull them from their shelves immediately.

By Eric K. @ 03/23/09 04:27:04 PMreport abuse

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Mar 23, 2009 -- Kroger's checkout-based warning system for recalls

What others are saying