Site last updated: Tuesday, March 19, 2024

Log In

Reset Password
MENU
Butler County's great daily newspaper

Two cheese companies in SR are sentenced

PITTSBURGH — A federal judge has sentenced two Butler County companies to 36 months’ probation and a fine of $500,000 each.

The U.S. Attorney’s office announced the sentences on Friday for Universal Cheese & Drying and International Packing, both of Slippery Rock.

They earlier were convicted of shipping adulterated and misbranded cheese products across state lines.

The U.S. Attorney’s office said Friday that both companies packaged and sold cheese under various labels at the Castle Cheese facility in Slippery Rock, which was then distributed through food service, retail, and wholesale customers throughout the nation.

According to court papers, both companies knew the products did not conform with the Food and Drug Administration’s regulations and standards of identity for real Parmesan and Romano cheese, but represented to customers that the products contained 100 percent real Parmesan and Romano cheese.

The companies also admitted that the cheese products were misbranded, because they did not have labels which correctly reflected the ingredients of the product, and that the products had more wood pulp in them than allowed by law.

The money from the misbranded and adulterated cheese products was used to continue the operation of cheese manufacturing and packaging at Castle Cheese.

More in Digital Media Exclusive

Subscribe to our Daily Newsletter

* indicates required
TODAY'S PHOTOS