CUE ADDS NEW FOOD LION CHARGE

JOANNA RAMEY

WASHINGTON (FNS) -- A group that has repeatedly attacked Food Lion for allegedly selling out-of-date food asked the government last week to investigate claims that the company "fixed" a recent federal inspection.

Consumers United With Employees asked the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services here to review allegations that a Food and Drug Administration inspection of Food Lion earlier this year was not done on a surprise basis, as the agency claimed. FDA gave the company high marks for sanitary conditions following the inspection. The AFL-CIO is the leading force behind CUE, whose members also include the Consumer Federation of America and the American Civil Liberties Union.

Food Lion, Salisbury, N.C., characterized CUE's allegations as "false and misleading." The company also asserted the accusations are part of a larger effort by the union to get the chain to settle an age discrimination lawsuit by some employees.

CUE's latest attack on Food Lion arises from the group's monitoring late last year of expiration dates on food and other products sold at the chain. The group claims that, during a canvass of 116 Food Lions in 78 cities and 14 states, it found more than 8,000 outdated products.