By Margo Riley, Associated Press, Lincoln, Neb.
LINCOLN, Neb. — Authorities in eastern Nebraska have charged a woman accused of repeatedly swapping packaged meat at a local grocery store with her own prepared squirrel meat, a case that officials say raises food safety concerns and has unsettled shoppers.
Police say the woman, identified as Marjorie Klein, 54, was caught on store surveillance footage removing commercially packaged meat from refrigerated cases and replacing it with tightly wrapped portions of meat she had prepared at home. The activity was discovered after store employees noticed inconsistencies in labeling and packaging.
Klein was questioned by police last week and acknowledged her actions, according to a police report. She told officers she believed her actions were justified given rising food prices and what she described as an overreliance on industrial meat production.
“In this economy, people better get used to eating local meat they can hunt themselves,” Klein said in an interview outside her home. “That’s real food. That’s how people used to live.”
Authorities said the meat was later identified as squirrel, prepared and frozen by Klein before being brought into the store.
Klein said the squirrels were taken from her own property and that she had grown increasingly frustrated with them eating seed from her backyard bird feeder.
“They’ve been cleaning me out for years,” she said. “If they’re going to eat my food, then they’re food.”
The grocery store, which authorities did not name, said no customers were believed to have purchased or consumed the substituted meat. All affected products were removed as a precaution.
“This is not a prank,” said county health officer Dr. Elaine Morris. “Introducing uninspected meat into the retail food supply is dangerous. There are serious risks involving parasites, bacteria, and contamination.”
Klein has been charged with misdemeanor counts including tampering with consumer products and violating state food safety regulations. Court records show she could face fines and possible probation if convicted. She is scheduled to appear in county court next month.
Store employees declined to comment, citing company policy, but one shopper said the incident was unsettling.
“You expect what’s in the package to be what it says,” said Linda Hargreeve, who shops at the store weekly. “I don’t care how expensive groceries get. This crosses a line.”
Klein said she did not believe she was putting anyone at risk and said she labeled the packages clearly enough.
“It’s clean meat,” she said. “Healthier than most of what’s in there.”
Wildlife officials said hunting squirrels is legal during certain seasons in Nebraska but stressed that processing and selling wild game is regulated and that substituting it into a grocery store supply is illegal.
“This isn’t about hunting,” said Nebraska Game and Parks Commission spokesperson Aaron Feldman. “It’s about food safety and consumer trust.”
As the case moves forward, authorities said they are reviewing whether additional charges are warranted but emphasized that there is no ongoing risk to the public.
Klein said she stands by her actions.
“People can laugh if they want,” she said. “But sooner or later, everyone’s going to have to rethink where their meat comes from.”
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