Published: July 24, 2008

Latino Consumer Group Says Latino Community Being Sold Outdated Food

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Latino consumer group charges markets selling expired, potentially hazardous food in local Latino community

Scores of long-outdated, potentially hazardous food products - which may be toxic enough to sicken patrons - are being sold by an area supermarket chain here, according to an investigation by a new Latino consumer rights organization.

A major news conference to display the products and outline the probe will be held THURSDAY, July 24 at 11 a.m. at 272 E. Santa Clara St. (corner of 7th St.), according to Latino Families for Safe Food Coalition (LFSFC).

The news briefing will be held in front of Mercados Su Vianda in San Jose, identified by LFSFC as the grocery source selling expired food products.

The consumer group, which focuses its activities primarily in Latino communities, said it acted only after members of the community complained that Su Vianda - which operates two stores in the area - sold them products weeks and up to nearly two months old to shoppers.

More than 50 expired items were collected by LFSFC in its investigation. El Mexicano Pickled Feet, for instance, was purchased on July 3, 2008 and the expiration date was May 17, 2008 - nearly seven weeks past its expired deadline.

LFSFC will call for a full investigation of Mercado Su Vianda by appropriate state agencies, including the Environmental Health Department and OSHA.

Joining LFSFC at the news briefing will be Phil Tucker, California Healthy Communities Network; Angel Luevano, Western States Director for League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) and Argentina Luevano, state director for LULAC.

judythpiazza@newsblaze.com