A former high-ranking New York City school official, Eric Goldstein, is set to be sentenced today for his role in a bribery scheme involving tainted food served in schools. Goldstein, who once served as the Chief Executive Officer of School Support Services, was found guilty of accepting bribes from Texas-based meat supplier Somma Foods in exchange for awarding them contracts to supply food to schools.
Prosecutors are pushing for several years in prison for Goldstein, highlighting that the food supplied by Somma Foods contained pieces of plastic, metal, and bones, which were served to students in 2015 and 2016. The contaminated food posed serious health risks and led to widespread outrage after the details of the scheme came to light.
Goldstein’s sentencing comes alongside that of three operators from Somma Foods, who are also being held accountable for their role in the scandal. The case has sparked concerns about corruption and oversight within school food services, and it has prompted calls for stricter monitoring of food contracts within New York City’s public school system.
The sentencing marks the culmination of a lengthy investigation, as prosecutors emphasized the need for accountability in safeguarding the health and safety of schoolchildren.
