Store warned four times about selling uninspected meat food products
BOSTON - A retail food market in Worcester - warned on four occasions since October 2013 by federal investigators about food safety violations - has entered into a consent decree with the government stipulating that it will not violate food safety laws, and that it will be subject to strict penalties if violations are found in the future.
Boaben Enterprises Inc., d/b/a J&W Aseda Marketplace, and its owners, Vida Causey and Wilton Causey, have entered into a consent decree that permanently enjoins them from violating the Federal Meat Inspection Act (FMIA). The government filed its complaint after a series of U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) surveillance activities of J&W Aseda Marketplace showed that the defendants had purchased, offered for sale, and sold meat products that were not inspected by the FSIS, and that they had failed to maintain appropriate business records concerning the purchase and sale of these products. The proposed consent decree was filed with the court and is awaiting judicial approval. Under the consent decree, USDA investigators will continue to have broad access to the premises of J&W Aseda Marketplace or any other establishment where Vida Causey and/or Wilton Causey sell, or offer for sale, meat food products. The defendants will also face significant financial penalties for any further violations of the FMIA.
“The sale of uninspected meat products is a significant health risk to consumers," said United States Attorney Andrew E. Lelling. “This consent decree is designed to prevent this business, and its owners, from further jeopardizing the health of customers."
“FSIS investigators are working hard every day to protect consumers," said Carmen Rottenberg, FSIS Administrator. “We take our job to protect public health very seriously with swift action to ensure that American families have safe food to eat."
U.S. Attorney Lelling and FSIS Administrator Rottenberg made the announcement today. Assistant United States Attorney Steven Sharobem of Lelling’s Civil Division handled the case.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
