ConAgra Says It’s Just a Witness in Federal Probe

OMAHA, Neb. — ConAgra Foods’ role in the Department of Defense’s investigation into possible corruption surrounding deals food suppliers made with the Army’s primary food contractor for the war in Iraq is limited to that of a witness, according to a statement released here yesterday by the manufacturer. The federal probe is focused on whether companies including ConAgra, Sara Lee and Perdue Farms set excessively high prices when they sold food to Public Warehousing Co. and whether the Kuwait-based company pocketed for itself refunds it received from these suppliers, according to published reports. “ConAgra Foods has been assured by the Department of Defense, which is leading the investigation of Public Warehousing Company, that its role in the investigation is limited to that of a witness,” said the statement. “ConAgra Foods first received a request for information from the Department of Defense in January 2007 regarding its inquiry into Public Warehousing Company’s activities. Since then, ConAgra Foods has cooperated with the Department of Defense’s investigation of Public Warehousing Company and provided the relevant records and testimony to the government investigators.”

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