The basics:

• Stop & Shop fined $75K for selling expired beef and poultry
• Ocean County probe found mislabeled product dates at multiple stores
• Consent agreement requires stricter safeguards at 46 NJ locations

Stop & Shop agreed to pay a $75,000 fine to resolve allegations that the chain systematically mislabeled expiration dates on beef and poultry and sold spoiled products at several of its Ocean County supermarkets, according to authorities.

As part of a consent agreement announced Aug. 25 by the county’s department of consumer affairs, the grocery retailer vowed to implement stricter safeguards to ensure accurate product labeling across all of its 46 locations in New Jersey.

The resolution stems from an investigation into complaints about the sale of expired meat and poultry at a Stop & Shop in Toms River, authorities said.

When the county found mislabeled product dates and expired items waiting to be placed on display at the store, officials said they expanded their probe to the banner’s four other locations in Ocean County. After that, authorities discovered beef and poultry were stamped with dates indicating when they were put out for display rather than when they were packaged to create “the appearance of freshness well beyond the actual delivery dates,” the county said.

Additionally, authorities learned that Stop & Shop had moved away from in-store and was relying heavily on prepackaged products prepared by off-site wholesalers. In one instance, a wholesale box delivered in February was not opened until March but labeled as if it had been freshly packaged that day, the county noted.

It was not immediately clear when the county conducted its investigations.

‘Mislabeling issue’

While Stop & Shop corporate counsel and senior management cooperated with the investigation, they initially characterized the matter as a “mislabeling issue,” authorities said.

Ocean County counsel Laura Comer, Director of Consumer Affairs Ronald Heinzman and Stop & Shop corporate representatives ultimately negotiated a consent agreement requiring immediate corrective action to protect consumers, according to the county.

Additionally, the county said it briefed the New Jersey Attorney General’s Office and Division of Consumer Affairs “to ensure statewide accountability.”

A representative from Stop & Shop told NJBIZ, “At Stop & Shop, we take all food safety matters very seriously. 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 on expiration dates on our products.”

Stop & Shop is a brand of Ahold Delhaize.

‘Breach of consumer trust’

In a statement, Heinzman described the matter as a “serious breach of consumer trust and confidence.”

“Consumer Affairs took a strong position that this was an immediate public safety, health, and welfare issue,” he said.

Consumer Affairs took a strong position that this was an immediate public safety, health, and welfare issue.
– Ronald Heinzman, Ocean County director of consumer affairs

Ocean County commissioner Robert Arace commended the county department of consumer affairs for its “steadfast commitment and professionalism in protecting the interests of our residents.”

Arace, liaison to the department, added, “This was a matter of considerable importance, and we deeply appreciate their prompt and decisive actions in ensuring it was thoroughly addressed.”

Editor’s note: This story was updated at 1:36 p.m. EST Aug. 26, 2025, to include a statement from Stop & Shop.