SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- The former meat manager of a Pak 'N Save store in Stockton, Calif., has been sentenced to 90 days in jail and three years' probation for ordering the sale of adulterated meat at his store. Frank Keith (Todd) Barnhouse -- who worked for Safeway's Pak 'N Save division until last August, when he was terminated for violating company policy -- pleaded no contest last week to a single count of violating state laws prohibiting the sale of adulterated food. According to the California attorney general's office, Barnhouse trained and instructed employees in his department to adulterate "30% ground beef" with trimmings from pork, turkey, lamb, unsalable beef, non-beef products and various delicatessen meats. Barnhouse will serve his sentence in the San Joaquin County jail. The attorney general's investigation, which began in March 1993, culminated last summer, when Safeway agreed to change certain corporate procedures and to pay $5.35 million in penalties and restitution to the state of California. The investigation focused on "30% ground beef" sold at five of the 16 Pak 'N Save locations. A suit filed by the state against the chain said the adulterations were made "for the purpose of maximizing the sale of on-premises meat products and reducing economic loss." Safeway officials said last summer they had terminated an unspecified number of store-level meat supervisors following the investigation. It was not clear last week whether any other individuals will be prosecuted on charges stemming from the investigation.
