In one case, a wholesale box delivered in February was not opened until March but was labeled as freshly packaged that day.
“This was a serious breach of consumer trust and confidence,” said Ronald Heinzman, director of Ocean County Consumer Affairs.
Stop & Shop cooperated with investigators and signed a consent agreement requiring immediate corrective actions across its 46 New Jersey stores. The company must now follow strict labeling guidelines, increase training and oversight, and ensure compliance with food safety standards statewide.
The New Jersey Attorney General’s Office and Division of Consumer Affairs were briefed on the findings to monitor ongoing compliance.
“I commend the Ocean County Department of Consumer Affairs for their commitment to protecting residents,” said Commissioner Robert S. Arace.
Consumers with concerns about mislabeled or spoiled products may contact the Ocean County Department of Consumer Affairs at 732-244-2121.
(To sign up for a free subscription to Food Safety News, click here.)
