Naughty local businesses
Yesterday, I told you the Maryland Department of Agriculture (MDA) Weights and Measures Section watches out for us whenever we do things like purchase food that is weighed by a scale in a supermarket; gasoline through a gasoline pump; or, pay moving fees based on the weight of our household goods.
Here are the local businesses that MDA issued enforcement actions to between Oct. 1 and Nov. 15, 2007:
*Giant Food, 6480 Freetown Road, Columbia --- On Nov. 15, MDA assessed a $750 civil penalty against Giant Food after violations cited during a series of inspections conducted since June, 2007. The inspections repeatedly found the store selling prepackaged commodities that contained less quantity than represented. Giant Food has 15 calendar days from receipt of the letter to contest the charge.
(Photo courtesy of food-image.com)
*Office Depot, 12970 Middlebrood Road, Germantown --- On Nov. 15, MDA assessed a $250 civil penalty against Office Depot after a price verification inspection found the store to be selling commodities at a price greater than the advertised sale price. Office Depot has 15 calendar days from receipt of the letter to contest the charge.
*Superfresh, 12028 Cherry Hill Road, White Oak --- On Oct. 16, MDA assessed a $750 civil penalty after violations cited during a series of inspections conducted since February, 2007. The inspections repeatedly found the store selling prepackaged commodities that contained less quantity than represented. Superfresh did not contest the charge within the 15-day allowable timeframe, therefore the department issued an order imposing the $750 sanction.
*Giant Food, 16837 Crabbs Branch Way, Gaithersburg --- On Oct. 16, MDA assessed a $750 civil penalty after violations cited during a series of inspections conducted since Jan., 2007. The inspections repeatedly found the store selling prepackaged commodities that contained less quantity than represented. Giant Food paid the fine in full on Nov. 6.
*Giant Food, 2900 University Boulevard, Wheaton --- On Oct. 16, MDA assessed a $750 civil penalty after violations cited during a series of inspections conducted since Feb., 2007. The inspections repeatedly found the store selling prepackaged commodities that contained less quantity than represented. Giant Food paid the fine in full on Nov. 6.
*La Mart, 2159 Patapsco Avenue, Baltimore --- On Oct. 1, MDA assessed a $2,000 civil penalty against La Mart after a routine inspection found the store selling prepackaged commodities that contained less quantity than represented. At the company's request, a contested case hearing was held on Oct. 11. The hearing resulted in an opportunity for penalty reduction, pending the results of another random package inspection. This is the fourth civil penalty since September, 2006. Previous penalties totaled $3,500, all paid in full.
Comments
Why are the fines so low? I see Giant on there 3 times, which seems to indicate they have a habit of ripping off customers.
A $750 fine is not going to scare a major grocery store chain. They probably have it built into their annual budget as a business expense. How about a 5 or 6-figure fine? That might start getting their attention and initiate needed changes for the long-term.
Posted by: PK | November 29, 2007 1:07 PM
I haven't seen this site enough, but I hope this is a regular feature. Stores often need to be shamed into action, and I hope this does it. Good work.
Posted by: WildBillFan | November 30, 2007 9:45 PM