KENTWOOD, Mich. (WZZM) – An employee with Hearthside Foods Bakery will be in court this week on charges of food tampering for allegedly tossing nuts and bolts into a granola bar mixture at the Kentwood facility.
Ruben Gramajo, 22, is free on bond pending a preliminary hearing in Kentwood District Court on Thursday. Placing harmful objects in food is a felony punishable by up to 10 years in prison and a $10,000 fine.
Video surveillance at the plant, 4185 44th St. SE, shows Gramajo putting objects into the granola mix, according to court documents. He told investigators he tossed the items into the mix because he wanted time off of work. Gramajo was arrested last Thursday.
He is the second person charged in West Michigan for product tampering in recent months. In August, Brian Francis Conover was charged in federal court with tampering with consumer products after he allegedly placed walnuts and other items into vitamin bottles at Meijer stores in southwest Michigan.
A total of 19 tampered products were found at Meijer stores in Kalamazoo, Calhoun and Allegan counties. Other items put in pill bottles include pet food, raisins, chocolate chips, aspirin and other vitamins.
That case is pending.
