Shopping Carts Full of Raw Meat Prompt Investigation at San Jose Market

Highly unpleasant images of shopping carts filled with raw, exposed meat — apparently being delivered to a San Jose grocery store — inspired disgust and outrage last week. They’ve also prompted an investigation by the Santa Clara Health Department, and probably a few people to convert to vegetarianism.

The incident occurred outside the 99 Ranch Market in San Jose earlier this month, and the photos were taken by would-be customer Loretta Seto. “We were at the 99 Ranch Market across from this Costco and saw their vendors delivering meat with Costco shopping carts!” Seto wrote on Facebook, where she posted the images last week.

Loretta Seto/Facebook

“Talk about disgusting!,” she continued. “I’m usually okay with sticking the kids in the seat of the basket, but this is a whole new level of gross.”

99 Ranch market apologized to Seto in a reply to her Facebook post, writing:

On behalf of 99 Ranch Market, we are terribly sorry for this incident that happened in one of our stores. 99 Ranch Market is committed to food safety and customer satisfaction. Therefore, we are taking the necessary steps to resolve this issue by investigating this case further and filing a complaint against our vendor. We appreciate you bringing this to our attention. Thank you for your patience and understanding

The store has identified the vendor in question as Jim’s Farm Meat Co. Inc. of Winton, California. A Jim’s Farm Meat manager says the delivery didn’t comply with its protocols, and that the employees responsible for it had been fired.

As for Seto, she tells the Mercury News that she’ll keep shopping at 99 Ranch Market — but only for packaged goods.

• Investigation underway after raw pork is delivered to San Jose market in shopping carts [The Mercury News]
• Winton meat company responds after photos of raw meat entering store go viral [Modesto bee]
• Photos of Raw Meat in Shopping Carts at San Jose’s 99 Ranch Market Go Viral [NBC Bay Area]