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Main Street food store in trouble for selling uninspected beef heads

Telegram & Gazette - 1/3/2020

WORCESTER -- A Main Street retail food store has entered into a consent decree with the government to resolve allegations that it continually violated the Federal Meat Inspection Act by selling and offering for sale non-federally inspected meat products.

Under the consent decree, Makola Market at 1145 Main St. and its owner and manager, Comfort Russell, face significant penalties if violations of the FMIA continue, according to the office of U.S. Attorney Andrew E. Lelling. The consent decree also permanently enjoins Makola Market and Ms. Russell from further violating the FMIA and gives investigators broad access for inspections and access to business records in the future.

The government filed its complaint after investigators with the Food Safety and Inspection Service of the U.S. Department of Agriculture repeatedly issued written warnings to Makola Market and Ms. Russell to stop buying, offering for sale, and selling misbranded meat food products that were not inspected by the USDA. In addition, FSIS investigators cited Makola Market for failing to maintain the required business records of the purchase and sale of these meat food products.

During the latest USDA inspection, investigators observed Makola Market offering for sale federally uninspected uncooked beef heads to retail customers and failed to maintain the necessary business records documenting the origin of these beef heads, according to Lelling's office.

The government filed the proposed consent decree, which is subject to judicial approval.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Anita Johnson of Lelling's civil division handled the case.

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