American Grocers, Inc., and its owner Samir Itani, agreed to pay $13.2 million to resolve allegations that it shipped food products past or near their expiration dates to U.S. troops stationed in the Middle East.

Whistleblower Delma Pallares, who worked for American Grocers as a logistics manager and general merchandise manager, uncovered the alleged scheme to purchase and alter expiration dates of aging or out-of-date food products, then resell them to military contractors.  Employees were allegedly instructed in how to re-label the products by eradicating the true date with acetone, spray paint, or a Dremel tool.  American Grocers also allegedly routinely forged Health and Halal certificates for the food products. 

Read the entire article, “Whistleblower’s Complaints Leads American Grocers, Inc. to Pay $13.2 Million to Settle Fraud Charges.”