Bacon Maker Settles Suit Over Labeling

A Wisconsin bacon maker agreed to pay a $7,500 fine to settle a civil lawsuit brought by the Ventura County district attorney’s office alleging improper labeling of its packages.

The suit accused SHK Foods Inc. of “slack filling” boxes of its Ready Crisp Fully Cooked Bacon. The suit alleges that SHK Foods sold 3-ounce packages that contained only 30% of the product advertised.

Company officials did not admit any wrongdoing.

“We agreed to settle because we couldn’t afford to litigate,” said Tom Bush, president of SHK Foods.

The settlement reached Tuesday also requires SHK Foods to reduce the size of its package. Investigators with the Ventura County Department of Weights and Measures discovered the discrepancies during routine inspections, officials said.