Four food suppliers are ponying up $395,000 to settle allegations they fooled the feds by slapping fresh inspection dates on stale beef patties, the Justice Department said Monday. The quartet of companies, which includes Prime Food Sales, Inc., Prime Food Sales LLC, JTP Sales, LLC, and JW Sales & Distribution, LLC, is accused of shipping out-of-date beef to federal prisons, a clear violation of their supply contract.
Caught red-handed, the companies apparently tried to pull a fast one on Uncle Sam by delivering patties that were supposed to be no more than six months old, refashioned with inspection labels suggesting they were fresher than six months upon arrival. U.S. Attorney Jacqueline C. Romero dropped the hammer, stating, "When supplying food to federal agencies, federal contractors are in a position of public trust and must adhere to contract specifications, especially those like product-age requirements that may impact food safety or quality." This was confirmed by the Justice Department's announcement.
Although the companies were caught mislabeling over 190,000 pounds of ground beef patties sold to the Federal Bureau of Prisons, investigations reassured that regardless of the misrepresentation, product quality and safety remained uncompromised. According to a coordinated investigation between the U.S. Attorney’s Office and other law enforcement partners, the false labels did not actually jeopardize food safety.
Special Agent in Charge Andrew B. Hartwell was not mincing words, warning that any company paid by the government is expected to toe the line, as the mislabeled products "potentially placed at risk" the health and safety of inmates, which turns out the government is deprived of what it had bargained for. His stern message was broadcasted in a statement obtained by the Justice Department, signaling that his agency, DOJ OIG's Fraud Detection Office, is hell-bent on weeding out such fraud.
The $395,000 settlement puts to rest the civil claims under the False Claims Act brought against the companies, who, while not admitting any wrongdoing, gratefully avoided a legal battle. Contained within this resolution is a message, crystal clear and sharp as a knife, that those dealing with government contracts can't cut corners without consequences. The investigation was a collaborative effort, showcasing diligence from the DOJ-OIG, the U.S. Attorney's Office's Assistant U.S. Attorney Gerald B. Sullivan, and Auditor Dawn Wiggins, all backed by the USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service.
