Plant worker pleads not guilty to food tampering

A food-plant worker pleaded not guilty Monday to tampering with wontons manufactured at his workplace.

Albert Vidal Torres, 33, of Ontario was arrested Wednesday on suspicion of inserting foreign material into the dumplings on three dates in 2003 while working for Golden Crown Foods Inc. in the city of Industry, according to the U.S. attorney’s office. The company destroyed $23,000 worth of food after customers complained, authorities said.

Torres was also charged with one count of fraud and misuse of a green card, and one count of false representation of a Social Security number. He faces a maximum of 40 years in prison if convicted on all counts.