Belcampo Closes Months After Allegations Over Mislabeled Meat

SANTA MONICA, CA — Months after a Los Angeles butcher complained that Belcampo was mislabeling meat by claiming it was a local, organic and sustainable brand, the Santa Monica location has closed, EaterLA reports.

The company announced the brand is ending and shifting its focus to commercial retail on its website.

"It is with a mixture of sadness and pride that Belcampo is ending our branded e-commerce, retail, and restaurant operations," the company said on its website.

"We want to thank you for supporting our company," the company said. "You inspired us to create products that were delicious and reflected a care for our global environment. We are grateful that you joined us on this journey. Prices are marked down significantly and all sales are final."

Belcampo is still listing sales items on its website but has now shuttered multiple locations, including its Grand Central Market outpost, West Third and Bay Area shops.

In May, butcher and former employee Evan Reiner shared how the meat was not locally sourced and not organic, as the company claimed it was. He shared a tenderloin that was labeled with a tag from Tasmania. He also showed a video of Mary’s chicken, which is not the company’s Belcampo meat.

He described how the business practices were not what they told the public and that people were charged higher on the sales for meat, which were mislabeled as organic.

The company acknowledged the allegations and conducted an investigation. Although the details of the investigation were not shared publicly.

“This company claims to be selling meat straight from their farm but it’s not true," Reiner said. "They’re (expletive) lying to you. Their (expletive) is not local."

He also expressed concern for people who have soy or corn-related health concerns, or allergies.

“It’s not grass-fed," Reiner said. "It’s not organic.”

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