Guilty pleas from 2 companies, exec., who sold mislabelled cheese

Feb. 26, 2016 – A woman and two western Pennsylvania cheese-making firms her family controls have pleaded guilty to mislabelling grated parmesan and romano that contained too much filler made from wood pulp.

Under the plea, the two companies — International Packing and Universal Cheese and Drying — will forfeit $500,000. Michelle Myrter was charged with aiding and abetting the introduction of misbranded and adulterated food into interstate commerce. The law holds a company official responsible whether or not they knew about the wrongdoing.

The two businesses were accused of mislabelling products made by family-owned Castle Cheese. Myrter is vice president of Castle and an officer in the other firms.

The FDA says the cheese was sold through Target stores and 3,400 stores supplied by Associated Wholesale Grocers of Kansas City, Kansas, reports The Associated Press.

— With files from The Associated Press