National Business Digest

NATION

Kroger expands recall on beef linked to E. coli cases

CINCINNATI — The Kroger Co. expanded its voluntary recall of some ground beef products beyond stores in Michigan and parts of Ohio to its stores in more than 20 states on Wednesday.

The nation’s biggest traditional grocer also urged customers to check the ground beef in their refrigerators and freezers for the date by which the product must be sold. Meat obtained from one of Kroger’s suppliers, Nebraska Beef Ltd., has been linked to illness reported in Michigan and Ohio between May 31 and June 8 caused by the E. coli bacteria.

Nebraska Beef has recalled from wholesalers and other processing companies nearly 532,000 pounds of ground beef produced on five dates between May 16 and June 24.

AirTran cuts worker wages to offset high fuel prices

ATLANTA — Discount carrier AirTran Airways said Wednesday it is seeking to cut its overall employee pay by about 10 percent to help offset soaring fuel prices, and it warned that it may need to cut wages further in the future.

“Our plan is to temporarily reduce pay rates for six months commencing with the start of the August pay period, and we will then review the situation again,” Chief Executive Bob Fornaro told employees in a memo. He added, “I must be clear that while we are starting with a conservative reduction as we monitor oil prices and industry conditions, we may need to do more in the future.”

Associated Press