Food Lion News

5/20/2005

SALISBURY, N.C. - Making sure your home refrigerator is cold enough is one of the best ways to prevent food-borne illnesses caused by bacteria. To help customers keep their refrigerated foods at the proper temperature, Food Lion is offering a special sale on refrigerator thermometers.

"The U.S. Food and Drug Agency and the Department of Agriculture recommend keeping refrigerator temperatures at 40 degrees Fahrenheit or colder," said James Ball, Food Lion director of food safety.

"Cold temperatures slow or stop the growth of bacteria on food. The best way to know if your refrigerator is 40 degrees Fahrenheit or below is to use a refrigerator thermometer," Ball said.

From May 25-31, Food Lion is offering refrigerator thermometers for $2.49 (regularly $2.99). The thermometers are about 3.5 inches long, easy to read, and can sit on a shelf or hang from a rack. Shoppers will find the thermometers in their Food Lion lunchmeat section and diary aisle.

Most home-use refrigerators do not come equipped with thermometers. At the same time, it's estimated only about 20 percent of American homes have a refrigerator thermometer, meaning most people don't know the temperature in their refrigerators.

Food Lion is teaming up with the Partnership for Food Safety Education and the Food Marketing Institute (FMI) to inform consumers of the importance of proper food preparation and storage to prevent food-borne illnesses. Through the "Project Chill" program, retailers, the Partnership for Food Safety Education and FMI are seeking to raise awareness of the 40 F guideline. More information on food safety is available through the partnership at www.fightbac.org.

"Refrigerator thermometers are an easy and inexpensive way to help keep your refrigerated foods safe," Ball said. "Thermometers are available at all Food Lion stores."

Food Lion customers can find their store's specials on quality meats, fresh produce and other products throughout the store by logging onto www.FoodLion.com and clicking on weekly specials.

Food Lion LLC is a subsidiary of Delhaize America, the U.S. division of Brussels-based Delhaize Group (NYSE: DEG). Food Lion operates more than 1,200 stores and employs approximately 73,000 associates, delivering great prices, neighborly convenience and quality products to its customers, in 11 Southeast and Mid-Atlantic states. Food Lion stores offer more than 28,000 different products.

Contact:Jeff Lowrance (704) 633-8250, Ext.3888