Food Safety
search
Ask Food Safety AI
cart
facebook twitter linkedin instagram youtube
  • Sign In
  • Create Account
  • Sign Out
  • My Account
Food Safety
  • NEWS
    • Latest News
    • Sponsored Insights
    • Sponsored White Papers
  • PRODUCTS
  • TOPICS
    • Contamination Control
    • Food Types
    • Management
    • Process Control
    • Regulatory
    • Sanitation
    • Supply Chain
    • Testing and Analysis
  • PODCAST
  • EXCLUSIVES
    • Food Safety Five Newsreel
    • eBooks
    • FSM Distinguished Service Award
    • Interactive Product Spotlights
    • Videos
  • BUYER'S GUIDE
  • MORE
    • NEWSLETTERS >
      • Archive Issues
      • Subscribe to eNews
    • Store
    • ASK FSM AI
  • WEBINARS
  • FOOD SAFETY SUMMIT
  • EMAG
    • eMagazine
    • Archive Issues
    • Editorial Advisory Board
    • Contact
    • Advertise
  • SIGN UP!
News

Falsified E. coli tests lead to probation for meat company owner

November 30, 2020

On November 24, the owner of a Connecticut meat processing company was sentenced to two years of probation and a $15,000 fine. The fine was due to the owner and one of his employees falsifying Escherichia coli test results.

The owner of New England Meat Packing in Stafford, Iowa, Memet "Matt" Bequiri, 33, appeared before a federal judge. In 2019, he pleaded guilty to making and using a false document, as well as aiding and abetting. 

Both Beqiri and the company's previous quality control offier, Debbie Smith, produced false test results showing there was no E. coli on swabs taken from 52 goat carcasses and ground beef samples. This occured from November 2016 to September 2017, and none of the samples were submitted to a laboratory.

Source: Big Rapids News


Author(s): Staff

Looking for quick answers on food safety topics?
Try Ask FSM, our new smart AI search tool.
Ask FSM →

Share This Story

Recommended Content

JOIN TODAY
to unlock your recommendations.

Already have an account? Sign In

  • people holding baby chicks

    Serovar Differences Matter: Utility of Deep Serotyping in Broiler Production and Processing

    This article discusses the significance of Salmonella in...
    Microbiological Control
    By: Nikki Shariat Ph.D.
  • woman washing hands

    Building a Culture of Hygiene in the Food Processing Plant

    Everyone entering a food processing facility needs to...
    Management
    By: Richard F. Stier, M.S.
  • graphical representation of earth over dirt

    Climate Change and Emerging Risks to Food Safety: Building Climate Resilience

    This article examines the multifaceted threats to food...
    Best Practices
    By: Maria Cristina Tirado Ph.D., D.V.M. and Shamini Albert Raj M.A.
Manage My Account
  • eMagazine Subscription
  • Subscribe to Newsletters
  • Manage My Preferences
  • Website Registration
  • Subscription Customer Service

More Videos

Sponsored Content

Sponsored Content is a special paid section where industry companies provide high quality, objective, non-commercial content around topics of interest to the Food Safety Magazine audience. All Sponsored Content is supplied by the advertising company and any opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and not necessarily reflect the views of Food Safety Magazine or its parent company, BNP Media. Interested in participating in our Sponsored Content section? Contact your local rep!

close
  • Man In Warehouse
    Sponsored byRentokil

    Mitigating Hidden Rodent Risks in Food Facilities

  • an industrial manufacturing or processing facility
    Sponsored bybioMérieux

    Get Ahead of Spoilage in Food Manufacturing with Metagenomics for Preventive Monitoring

  • an automated industrial production line used in a modern food factory
    Sponsored byIFC

    A Formula for Food Processing Pest Management

Popular Stories

dozen white eggs

Nearly 100 Sick in Multistate Salmonella Outbreak, Millions of Eggs Recalled

Business people shaking hands with FDA logo overlay

FDA to Centralize Administrative Functions, Generalize Inspectors

packaged sesame seed buns

FDA's Allergen Agenda Is Expanding: Thresholds, Gluten Cross-Contact, and What Food Companies Should Watch for Next

building a skilled workforce ebook

Events

August 6, 2026

Beyond Sanitation: Understanding the Hidden System Conditions That Allow Pathogens to Persist

Live: August 6, 2026 at 2:00 pm EDT: Attend this webinar to learn strategies for strengthening environmental control programs through a layered approach to pathogen management.

August 11, 2026

Beyond Sanitization: Reducing Contamination Risk Without Raising Operating Cost

Live: August 11, 2026 at 2:00 pm EDT: Attend this webinar to learn why ambient air is the largest and most overlooked contamination zone in food processing, and what it costs you between scheduled cleans.

August 25, 2026

Don’t Wing It: Bird Control for Food Processing Facilities

Live: August 25, 2026 at 2:00 pm EDT: This webinar will cover why managing bird activity should be a priority for your business, the complexities involved in effective bird control, and proactive strategies to help protect your facility.

View All

Products

Global Food Safety Microbial Interventions and Molecular Advancements

Global Food Safety Microbial Interventions and Molecular Advancements

See More Products

Related Articles

  • FSS news generic image

    Connecticut meat processor gets probation for falsified E. coli tests

    See More
  • Hygiena Awarded AOAC-RI Validation for Rapid Coliform and E. Coli Tests

    See More
  • whole yellow onions on gray surface

    FDA Closes Investigation of McDonald’s E. Coli Outbreak Without Tests Confirming Onions as Source

    See More

Related Products

See More Products
  • 1119053595.jpg

    Food Safety for the 21st Century: Managing HACCP and Food Safety throughout the Global Supply Chain, 2E

  • 1119160553.jpg

    Food Safety: Innovative Analytical Tools for Safety Assessment

  • 1118396308.jpg

    High Throughput Analysis for Food Safety

See More Products

Related Directories

  • BioSafe Systems

    BioSafe Systems is a leading U.S. manufacturer of peroxyacetic acid (PAA)-based solutions, delivering trusted food safety, water treatment, and processing solutions through clean chemistry and automated equipment. Our proven products help growers and processors control pathogens such as E. coli and Salmonella, reduce microbial risk, and improve efficiency across the fresh produce supply chain.
  • E-Pak Machinery

    E-PAK Machinery, Inc. is an industry leading manufacturer of in-line liquid packaging machinery. We offer a wide variety of manual, semi-automatic & fully automatic machines for filling, capping, plugging, labelling, date coding and bottle handling solutions. Our complete line of liquid filling machines & systems is designed with simple and versatile designs, built with high-quality materials to provide many years of service and offer a cost-effective solution for almost any liquid packaging application.
  • eHACCP.org

    eHACCP.org is a leading provider of online HACCP training and certification accredited by the International HACCP Alliance. Over 20 courses delivered in multiple languages. Corporate and group solutions available.
×

Never miss the latest news and trends driving the food safety industry

Newsletters | Website | eMagazine

JOIN TODAY!
  • RESOURCES
    • Advertise
    • Contact Us
    • Directories
    • Store
    • Want More
  • SIGN UP TODAY
    • Create Account
    • eMagazine
    • Newsletters
    • Customer Service
    • Manage Preferences
  • SERVICES
    • Marketing Services
    • Reprints
    • Market Research
    • List Rental
    • Survey/Respondent Access
  • STAY CONNECTED
    • LinkedIn
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • X (Twitter)
  • PRIVACY
    • PRIVACY POLICY
    • TERMS & CONDITIONS
    • DO NOT SELL MY PERSONAL INFORMATION
    • PRIVACY REQUEST
    • ACCESSIBILITY

Copyright ©2026. All Rights Reserved BNP Media, Inc. and BNP Media II, LLC.

Design, CMS, Hosting & Web Development :: ePublishing