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Debbie Smith, 60, of Ellington, pleaded guilty in Hartford federal court to a charge related to a Connecticut meat processing business’ falsification of dozens of E. coli test results, U.S. Attorney John Durham announced.
Earlier this year, Memet Beqiri - also known as Matt Beqiri - 32, of Tolland, the owner of New England Meat Packing in Stafford Springs, pleaded guilty to similar charges.
Durham noted that New England Meat Packing is a federally inspected business engaged in the slaughtering, processing, selling and transporting of meat and meat food products.
As part of the USDA’s Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point plan for the business, is required to perform one generic E. coli carcass swab for every 300 animals slaughtered and to periodically collect ground beef samples for E. coli testing,” the U.S. Attorney added.
Between Nov. 3, 2016 and Sept. 9, 2017, Beqiri authorized the preparation and submission in the company’s Lab Sample Report binder, which the USDA’s Food Safety Inspection Service (FSIS) reviews, a total of 36 documents relating to 52 separate carcass swabs and ground beef samples on behalf of New England Meat Packing.
Acting as the company’s HACCP Coordinator and Quality Control Officer, Smith was in charge of preparing that binder. The 36 documents were each on the letterhead of a certified laboratory that tests food product samples to ensure safety and wholesomeness and signed by the laboratory director.
According to Durham, the documents stated that the required E. coli testing of samples submitted by New England Meat Packing had been conducted and completed, and that all 52 samples tested negative for E. coli.
"In fact, none of the 52 carcass swabs and samples had been submitted or tested by the identified laboratory, or any other laboratory, and the 36 documents were fraudulently prepared using laboratory letterhead obtained from previous testing that New England Meat Packing had conducted with that laboratory,” he said.
Smith pleaded guilty to one count of making and using a false document. She remains released on bond. Smith is scheduled to be sentenced on Tuesday, Dec. 10, when she will face up to five years in prison.
“FSIS investigators are on the job protecting public health every day,” FSIS Administrator Carmen Rottenberg said. “Our work is critical to protect American families and the food supply, and we will not tolerate blatant disregard for food safety laws.”
Symptoms of E. coli include stomach cramps, diarrhea, and vomiting for several days. Others may endure a minor fever.
"Some illnesses last longer and can be more severe. Infection is usually diagnosed by testing of a stool sample. Vigorous rehydration and other supportive care is the usual treatment; antibiotic treatment is generally not recommended," according to the USDA. "Most people recover within a week, but, rarely, some develop a more severe infection. Hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), a type of kidney failure, is uncommon with STEC O103 infection.
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