Exec, 2 firms plead guilty in W. Pa. to cheese mislabeling

Associated Press

PITTSBURGH

An executive and two Pennsylvania cheese businesses her family controls pleaded guilty Friday to trying to pass off grated Swiss and mozzarella as parmesan and romano and adding more wood pulp to the products than the law allows.

Michelle Myrter, 44, will receive probation instead of up to one year in prison called for by the statute, according to her attorney.

Under a deal with prosecutors, Myrter’s Slippery Rock companies – International Packing and Universal Cheese and Drying – will have to forfeit $500,000 each.

The Food and Drug Administration said the cheese was made by family-owned Castle Cheese and sold at Target stores and other stores under the brand names Market Pantry, Always Save and Best Choice, according to a report obtained from the agency Bloomberg News.

Despite that, FDA spokeswoman Lauren Sucher told The Associated Press in an email that the agency has no information on where the products were sold.

According to the Bloomberg story, a combination of Swiss, mozzarella and white cheddar cheeses was labeled as parmesan and romano.

Also, the cheese contained more than the 4 percent of cellulose allowed by the FDA to prevent clumping.