CINCINNATI, June 28, 2026, 17:58 (EDT)
- USDA alert covers 21-ounce Private Selection Honey Dijon chicken, lot 15326A, sold at Kroger and Fred Meyer stores in nine states.
- FSIS did not seek a recall because the product was off shelves; no adverse reactions had been confirmed in public reports.
- Kroger’s own recall-alert page lists a June 23 Golden West Food Group egg-label entry with overlapping retail regions, but it does not name the chicken product.
- Kroger last traded Friday at $57.73, down 5 cents; no U.S. cash trade was available on Sunday.
Kroger Co NYSE:KR faces a contained but useful supply-chain test after U.S. food-safety officials warned consumers about a mislabeled Private Selection chicken product whose best-by date fell on Sunday, three days after the federal alert became active. The hard facts are narrow: one named SKU, one lot code, nine states, two Kroger banners and no confirmed adverse reactions in public reports.
The product is 21-ounce vacuum-packed Private Selection Honey Dijon Boneless Skinless Chicken Breasts with Rib Meat, lot 15326A, establishment P-45288B, best if used by June 28, 2026. It was sold at Kroger and Fred Meyer stores in Alabama, Alaska, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Oregon, Tennessee and Washington.
FSIS said a recall was not warranted because customers could no longer buy the item, but some packs may still be in freezers. Customers were told not to eat it and to throw it away or return it.
Kroger had no Sunday cash session to price the weekend reports. The stock last traded at $57.73 on Friday, down 5 cents from the prior close, with the latest trade logged at 23:15 UTC on June 26.
The timing makes the alert more of a label-control issue than a store-shelf issue. The count below uses the June 2 production date, Kroger’s June 23 recall-alert entry, the June 25 FSIS active date and the June 28 best-by date.
| Event | Date | Days after production | Investor read-through |
|---|---|---|---|
| Product made | June 2 | 0 | Label risk starts at plant or supplier |
| Kroger recall-alert page entry | June 23 | 21 | Retail notice came before most consumer coverage |
| FSIS alert active | June 25 | 23 | Federal alert came near end of shelf life |
| Best-by date | June 28 | 26 | Risk moved to consumer refrigerators and freezers |
The fault was not reported as a pathogen finding. Allrecipes said the back label was for Private Selection Teriyaki Skirt Steak; Local12 said a store employee found the incorrect nutrition and ingredient label on the back of the chicken pack. Kroger’s recall-alert page lists Golden West Food Group for a June 23 incorrect back-label issue on UPC 1111069111 that failed to declare egg.
| Disclosure | Status word used | Company named | Geography | What was public |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kroger recall-alert page | “Recalled on June-23-2026” | Golden West Food Group | Louisville/Lexington, Nashville/Knoxville, Fred Meyer | Incorrect back label, egg undeclared, UPC 1111069111 |
| FSIS-linked consumer reports | Public health alert; recall not warranted | FW Farms LLC in public reports | Nine states | Private Selection chicken, lot 15326A, establishment P-45288B |
That matters for investors because the issue hit a premium store brand, not a third-party national label on Kroger’s shelf. Kroger said in March that Private Selection had more than 3,600 unique items. Ann Reed, group vice president of Our Brands, said the line brought “high quality and convenience” without “the premium price tag.” Kroger Investor Relations
Kroger’s June 18 results show why small private-label misses can draw notice. The company reported $46.1 billion in first-quarter sales, a 22.7% gross margin, adjusted FIFO operating profit of $1.544 billion and full-year adjusted EPS guidance of $5.10 to $5.30. CEO Greg Foran told investors the group had “more work to do” and was keeping a “constant focus on serving customers better.” Kroger Investor Relations
The public data set still has gaps. Reports gave pack size, lot, establishment number, states and no confirmed adverse reactions, but they did not give a package count, pounds, refund cost or any Kroger reserve tied to the alert.
Any added lots, confirmed reactions, package count or formal FSIS recall would change the risk math.
