7 On Your Side tags along for surprise grocery store inspection in Queens

NEW YORK (WABC) -- The Department of Consumer and Worker Protections recently invited 7 On Your Side to join them on an unannounced random inspection of a Queens grocery store.

Inspectors tested scales, expiration dates, and prices to make sure customers get what they pay for at the register -- and there were some surprises.

We won't be revealing the identity of the city inspector, one of dozens walking the aisles daily of New York City grocery stores, from the big box to the bodega.

They test every single scale, look at every label, and register every ring-up, so shoppers don't have to worry about getting ripped off.

"This is core to what my department, DCWP does, we're literally out there in the streets making sure New Yorkers are not being overcharged," Commissioner for the Department of Consumer and Worker Protection Sam Levine said.

The commissioner says he has even personally checked his own receipts, only to discover being charged full price on items advertised for sale.

"If we don't have inspectors out there, more groceries are going to try to nickel and dime on the cost of food," he said.

Over the last three years, 1,977 violations have been found in 3,630 supermarket inspections across the five boroughs.

At Farm Country Supermarket in Elmhurst, Queens, all the scales were checked, plus the meats, deli, and seafood.

Weights are added to the scales one by one. Those that pass the test get a sticker indicating they are accurate.

But at this store, every register scale failed for measuring items underweight.

"Whether it be under or over, this scale will fail the inspection," the inspector said. "This is totally incorrect. It's not acceptable for use."

This store will receive a violation for selling illegal disposable plates as you're not allowed to sell Styrofoam in New York City.

"The city allows paper plates and plastic plates," the inspector said.

The inspector also looked for bread expiration dates and wrote summons for missing price tags.

"The price tag should also be on the actual item itself," he said. "If this box does not have it, that's also a violation."

Another no-no was tacking on a tax for untaxable goods.

"Pads and meds, these items are non-taxable," he said.

The inspector found three expired medicines. Among them, pain medication that expired in October of last year and some children's cough syrup that had expired in April of 2025.

"This is actually not acceptable," he said.

7 On Your Side wanted to ask the owners of Farm Country Supermarket about the 25 counts stemming from four separate violations, but they wouldn't return our calls.

Upon receiving summons, grocers have two options: they can either dispute it in a hearing or admit to the violations and pay penalties.

"That really is our job, send a message to grocery stores throughout the city, make sure you're not selling expired medicine, make sure you're not selling expired food, I want them to feel that the food and meds they're purchasing are safe and healthy," Levine said.

If you'd like report an issue found at your grocery store, you can file a complaint here on the Department of Consumer and Worker Protection's web page.

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