Possible Food Tampering At Non-Roosevelt Island Gristedes Supermarket. Precautionary Warning Sent To Public Safety Department

Image Of Gristedes From Roosevelt Island 360

The 10/28 -29 Roosevelt Island Public Safety report indicated:

Investigation- A warning notice sent to Gristedes Supermarket from Gristedes Supermarket Human Resources regarding an incident in another store off Island of three subjects allegedly tampering with the meat. NYPD had responded to the off Island incident.

I asked RIOC Public Safety Director Keith Guerra for additional details and he replied:

Luis Bueno, Store Manager at the Roosevelt Island Gristedes, reported that he received an e-mail from the Executive Director of Human Resources and Asset Management to alert Local Law Enforcement Authorities of an incident that occurred in an off-island Gristedes.

Three people (described as 2 white females and 1 white male) were escorted out of that store because they were observed unwrapping meat and swabbing it with a culture swab (which, according to the Executive Director, are used to grow bacteria). They were not inspectors of any kind and had no identification. NYPD was notified and confiscated the swabs.

Gristedes wanted to inform all of their stores because this behavior could be dangerous and they want to keep their products free from harm.

Again, this incident did not occur at the Roosevelt Island Gristedes but a warning was sent to law enforcement agencies including the RI Public Safety Department. As they say on the subway regarding suspicious activity "if you see something say something".