Arizona inspectors find inaccuracies at butcher shops

PHOENIX — According to the Arizona Department of Weights and Measures, consumers and businesses may have been incorrectly charged for meat and other products at butcher shops.

The agency looked at pricing practices, proper labeling and accuracy and licensing of meat scales at 18 butcher shops in Arizona during July, August and September.

Inspectors checked prices on over 2,000 products and found 4 percent to be incorrect. They also found a 21 percent failure rate on items that didn’t scan at the cash register.

Commercial scales were also tested, in which inspectors found 33 of the 78 scales out of tolerance and under weighed merchandise.

“In many instances, the retail stores themselves had bought the meat from a manufacturer who pre-packaged the merchandise, so the butcher shop may have been shorted as well,” said Weights and Measures director Kevin Tyne.

After store inspections, all scanning and non-priced items had to be fixed within 30 minutes.