Food Lies: Antwerp LLC Convicted of Felonious Misbranding
Categories: Food News
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| Do you know where your broccoli really comes from? |
Key Biscayne-based Antwerp, LLC was recently busted in U.S. District Court after the Miami field office of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration investigated claims the supplier of organic fruit and vegetable products was selling misbranded food.
According to court documents, Antwerp, which has also gone by the name Pure Nature Organics, LLC, "knowingly and with intent to defraud," repackaged broccoli and green beans originating in the People's Republic of China into containers stating the vegetables were instead a product of Costa Rica from September to October 2007. The misbranded veggies were then sold to a retail customer in February 2008.
FDA test results showed that the mislabeled organic products were not contaminated in any way. After learning from the FDA about the incident, the retailer pulled all product off their shelves.
The company was sentenced to three years of probation, a $50,000 criminal fine, and was ordered to develop and implement a food distribution compliance plan. Antwerp, LLC's managing member, Marc Meurs, pled guilty to a misdemeanor violation and personally guaranteed the payment of Antwerp, LLC's $50,000 criminal fine.
Short Order tried to reach Meurs for comment at another food supplier/wholesale company located in Key Biscayne, but were told we had the wrong Marc Meurs.
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