Stop & Shop fined ,000 for selling expired meat in New Jersey stores.
Grocery chain Stop & Shop has been penalized with a ,000 fine following allegations of selling meat products with incorrect expiration dates at multiple locations in New Jersey. The enforcement action, initiated by the Ocean County Department of Consumer Affairs, stemmed from customer complaints regarding the purchase of expired meat at a store in Toms River.
The investigation revealed that Stop & Shop had been systematically mislabeling and improperly handling beef and poultry products across all five of its stores in Ocean County. Upon scrutiny, officials discovered that some products were marked with display dates rather than their actual packaging dates. This practice distorted the perceived freshness of the products, misleading customers about their true expiration timelines. Furthermore, some items were stamped with expiration dates that exceeded those recommended by their wholesalers, raising significant health and safety concerns.
Investigators observed a troubling trend within the grocery chain, noting a shift away from in-store butchery to reliance on pre-packaged products supplied by off-site wholesalers. In particular, they highlighted an instance where a wholesale delivery, made in February, was not opened until March. However, despite this delay, the products were labeled as if they had just been packed that same day, contributing to the misrepresentation of product freshness.
Additional lapses in labeling were identified across other locations, including stores in Brick, Point Pleasant, and Manchester. In response to the findings, Stop & Shop agreed to implement stricter safeguards to ensure compliance with proper labeling practices at all 46 of its New Jersey stores.
The incident has been described as a serious breach of consumer trust, with officials emphasizing the necessity of immediate action to protect public health and welfare. The Ocean County Health Department played a significant role in supporting the investigation, reinforcing the commitment to maintaining food safety standards within the region.
In reaction to the allegations, Stop & Shop stated it had launched its own investigation upon becoming aware of the customer complaints, asserting that it took swift measures to address the issue. Media News Source reports that the outcome of this case underscores the ongoing scrutiny of food labeling practices and the importance of transparency in consumer goods.
