Complaint Review: Kroger

In the KROGER store located in Murray, Kentucky it is very easy to find meat products that are being sold in violation of certain federal regulations. Store labels for weight and price are very carefully placed to cover certain required information on the product label.

For the last three weeks now I have noted that store labels are covering the "WATER ADDED" notation on every ham and pork shoulder in the meat case at the Murray KROGER store. These informational obscuring labels were placed with such accuracy as to deny any claim of a random or accidental
placement error.

I complained about this practice back in '03 and was assured, by a local manager, that it was just an honest mistake and it would never happen again. I have not heard such insincere lies since the last election.

I have talked to the district office and national office for the corporation. These calls were uniformly ineffective.

Today the store was still offering picnic hams with the "WATER ADDED" covered by store label.

The net weight and price sticker is not supposed to cover mandatory labeling features. Product name and ingredient list are part of the required label information.

WATER ADDED is required as a part of ingredient information on certain products. Covering the information that is required by lay shows lack of ethic, morals, and integrity. If they practice deceptive practices relative to WATER ADDED, can you trust the labeled fat content of their hamburger??

Information from USDA relative to this practice follows:

The net weight and price sticker is not supposed to cover mandatory labeling features.

Sincerely,
Tawana Duncan
Labeling Compliance Team
FSIS, USDA
Washington, DC 20250
Wed, 18 Jun 2003 15:15:23


Required Information on a Label
(9CFR317.2/381 Subpart N)

Up to 8 required features
Product name
Inspection legend and establishment number
Handling statement
Net weight statement
Ingredient statement
Address line
Nutrition facts
Safe handling instructions

Poor
Murray, Kentucky
U.S.A.