STOP & SHOP will not bring back in-store butchers, even after a $75,000 fine for selling spoiled meat in New Jersey.
The fine was announced on August 25 by the Ocean County Department of Consumer Affairs.
Sop & Shop has refused to bring back in-store butchers, even after a $75,000 fine (stock)[/caption]
In some cases, beef and poultry carried extended expiration dates beyond wholesaler recommendations (stock)[/caption]
It cited “a widespread pattern of product mislabeling and improper handling of beef and poultry products across multiple store locations.”
Investigators flagged “systemic mislabeling practices” at five Stop & Shop stores in central New Jersey.
Officials said products were marked with dates showing when they were displayed, not when packaged, making meat appear fresher than it actually was.
In some cases, beef and poultry carried extended expiration dates beyond wholesaler recommendations, CT Insider reported.
One instance involved a wholesale box delivered in February but not opened until March, yet labeled as freshly packaged that day.
Jennifer Brogan, a company spokeswoman, said Stop & Shop “stopped meat cutting in stores several years back.”
She added that while the New Jersey issue has been addressed, there are no plans to reinstate butchers in all stores.
“At Stop & Shop, we take all food safety matters very seriously,” Brogan said.
“With respect to this specific situation, upon being notified of the matter, we conducted an investigation and took immediate action. We follow industry best practices and manufacturers’ instructions regarding expiration dates on our products.”
Retail experts, however, say the decision may hurt sales.
Burt Flickinger, managing director of retail consulting firm Strategic Resource Group, said Stop & Shop is seeing a 10% to 20% per-store sales decline since eliminating butchers.
“When meat is in a customer’s market basket, they spend $90 to $100 or more,” Flickinger said.
“When it’s not, consumers spend between $30 and $35.”
Stop & Shop relies on modified atmospheric packaging, which preserves perishable goods by altering the air in a package.
Major recalls in 2025
SHOPPERS should keep a close eye on grocery items that are being pulled from shelves, as many products have already been recalled this year.
Here is a full list of some of the major foods that had dangerous ingredients lurking inside.
- A popular brand of butter that’s sold at Walmart was found to be contaminated with fecal matter
- A kind of yogurt had chunks of plastic floating in the packages
- Bread sold at Walmart and Kroger had a life-threatening ingredient inside
- Pantry staple beloved by shoppers was ripped from shelves over a dangerous mix up
- Over 367,000 pounds of meat distributed by a recognizable brand were thrown out thanks to deadly bacteria
- Vitamins sold at Aldi and online had a hidden allergen
- And an ingredient found in contaminated beef could prove fatal
The technology allows meat to be sold a week to a week and a half longer after cutting, according to trade publication Progressive Grocer.
Flickinger said the chain has used this method since 2007.
John Niccollai, president of Local 464A of the United Food and Commercial Workers in New Jersey, said the meat department remains important.
“The meat department isn’t the draw it was 20 to 30 years ago, but it’s still the department that gets people in the stores,” Niccollai said.
“People don’t want to go to two or three stores to do their grocery shopping.”
He noted competitors in New Jersey still cut meat in-store, which attracts shoppers.
Stop & Shop’s fine highlights risks linked to pre-packaged meat, including mislabeling and spoilage.
The Ocean County Department of Consumer Affairs said it will continue monitoring stores for compliance.
Brogan said Stop & Shop has implemented procedures to prevent similar problems in the future.
The $75,000 penalty does not include any criminal charges but underscores consumer safety concerns.
Industry insiders say in-store butchers can help ensure quality and draw loyal shoppers.
Stop & Shop officials have not indicated whether fines in other states might influence future store policies.
For now, the chain is holding firm on its no-butcher approach, despite criticism and lost sales.
