PUBLIC LEGAL NOTICE – PART XI

PUBLIC LEGAL NOTICE – PART XI

Date of Incident: November 8, 2025
Location: Family Dollar Store, 2346 East 79th Street, Chicago, Illinois 60649
Subject: Sale of Expired Food and Violation of Illinois Sanitary Food Preparation Act

On November 8, 2025, during a routine visit to the Family Dollar located at 2346 East 79th Street, Chicago, Illinois, I purchased a package of bacon later found to be expired. The product label displayed a “Use By” date of October 15, 2025, indicating that the food item was 24 days past its expiration date at the time of purchase.

This means the bacon was nearly one month expired when sold to me. Under Illinois law, selling expired food violates multiple health and consumer protection statutes, including the Sanitary Food Preparation Act (410 ILCS 625/), which requires all food offered for sale to be safe for consumption and properly labeled.

Applicable Legal Framework

Illinois State Penalties

• Class B Misdemeanor: Selling expired or unwholesome food can result in a Class B misdemeanor, punishable by up to six months of imprisonment and/or fines.

• Daily Fines: Violations may be subject to daily fines for each day the offense continues.

• Injunctions: Health departments may pursue a court order to suspend or revoke business operations until compliance is achieved.

City of Chicago Regulations

• Municipal Fines: Chicago imposes daily penalties ranging from $200 to $500 for each day a violation remains uncorrected.

• Imprisonment: In cases where individuals knowingly obstruct or mislead health inspectors, penalties may include up to six months of jail time.

Important Legal Considerations

• “Use By” vs. “Best By” Dates: While “Best By” dates often reflect product quality rather than safety, “Use By” dates—such as the one labeled on this product—indicate the point beyond which the food is no longer safe for consumption.

• Infant Formula and Baby Food: Illinois explicitly prohibits the sale of expired baby food or formula under all circumstances.

• Consumer Protection and Reporting: Consumers who unknowingly purchase expired food products are encouraged to report such violations to the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) and the Chicago Department of Public Health (CDPH) for enforcement and inspection.

Statement for the Record

This sale of expired food represents a clear breach of public health and safety standards and is now entered into the public record as evidence of continued negligence and regulatory noncompliance at the Family Dollar location cited above.

This incident also forms part of a pattern of irregular business practices and public endangerment observed at this same location. All relevant documentation, photographs, and product labels will be retained for potential submission to state and city health authorities.

I reserve all rights under state and federal law to pursue civil, administrative, or criminal remedies should the responsible parties fail to remedy or address these violations.