Supply company accused of diluting spices sold to prisons

A Pennsylvania-based supply company is accused of diluting spices sold to prisons across the country.

The Post and Courier reports federal prosecutors in South Carolina have filed a false claims lawsuit against FlavorPros LLC. The lawsuit says FlavorPros purported to sell pure spices but actually cut shipments to underbid competitors, earning it more than $500,000 in federal procurement contracts.

FlavorPros was owned by Charlene Brach, of New Jersey. She was charged last year with adulterating and misbranding spices sold to 122 prisons nationwide. Brach said Tuesday she was unaware of the lawsuit and denied guilt, saying her supply company wouldn’t have been responsible if spices were diluted.

Brach later started another supply company called Artisan Foods LLC, which the lawsuit said acted as a stand-in for FlavorPros amid increased scrutiny.

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Information from: The Post and Courier, http://www.postandcourier.com