STEW LEONARD'S MAY NOT GET FINED

NORWALK, Conn. -- A hearing officer for the state's Consumer Protection Department has recommended that no fines be imposed on Stew Leonard's Dairy here in a product-mislabeling case.

commissioner of consumer protection, will hear arguments for and against the hearing officer's recommendations. Schaffer then will make a final ruling on the mislabeling charges, which can be appealed through the civil courts.

Schaffer said last July that during three routine checks of Stew Leonard's, weights and measures inspectors examined 2,658 packages and found 1,232 in violation of state labeling requirements. The mislabeling violations carry a maximum fine of more than $600,000.

Among the short-weighted items were 55 packages of ice-cream sprinkles, off by 0.0072 of a pound.