May 6, 2025 (Ames Tribune) –
A local meat locker that has supplied meat to a popular central Iowa BBQ restaurant for years has been charged with two felonies for allegedly selling thousands of pounds of mislabeled product.
Through investigation from the
As a result,
Neither IDALS nor court records indicate there were any issues with the quality of meat provided.
Stanhope Locker first opened in 1946. They are known for their "award-winning beef jerky and our delicious beef sticks," according to the company's website. "Our recipes are made with the best cuts of
Stanhope, Zanker allegedly sold thousands of pounds of mislabeled meat
About 6,894 pounds of ring bologna from Zanker's Stanhope meat locker, on 37 different occasions, were sold for
Zanker was warned about mislabeling his meat after an investigation in late 2019 and was issued a warning letter in
Felony charges against Zanker and the meat locker were brought forward on
Zanker has not been arrested, according to court records.
Whatcha Smokin declined the Tribune's request for comment.
Investigation uncovers alleged mislabeled meat in 2023
Under Iowa Code, a product is considered mislabeled unless it bears a label showing both the name and place of business of the manufacturer, packer or distributor, and an accurate statement of the product’s quantity in weight, measure or numerical count.
The product must also bear the official inspection legend and establishment number of the establishment where it was prepared.
The
Zanker has been operating the locker for almost seven years
Zanker took ownership of Stanhope Locker in 2018.
According to a Ford
“People want to know where their food comes from now," Zanker was quoted in the Messenger article. "There’s lots of interest in the food-to-fork movement.”
Warning letter sent to Zanker in 2020
Zanker's alleged labeling issues extend back more than five years.
Zanker and Stanhope Locker were given a “Letter of Warning” in
The 2019 investigation revealed that Zanker allegedly “produced and sold meat (ring bologna)" to Whatcha Smokin that were “devoid of any labeling or identification,” according to the IDALS.
The
Zanker was warned again in July and
Zanker allegedly tried intimidating inspector during a pair of 2023 visits
Two in-person inspections were completed at Stanhope Locker in 2023, once in July and once in August.
Records indicate that other cooked products (cheddar ring bologna and pork taco sticks) were not recorded in the Stanhope Locker's business log records at the time of inspection.
Zanker allegedly became confrontational during the first in-person inspection in
When an inspector returned a month later in
The inspector considered Zanker’s actions during the two inspections to “constitute an unlawful attempt to intimidate the inspector and interfere with conduct of her official inspection duties, which warrants “withholding or suspension” under Iowa Code.
State inspections of Stanhope Locker were suspended from
The suspension was lifted on
Zanker asks court to uncover specific evidence, logs
Ahead of the
His request includes “All in-car camera recordings of all responding officers, all body-worn camera recordings of all responding officers; all video and/or audio recordings depicting the defendant at any place of detention," according to court records. Court documents do not specify why Zanker requested the specific logs and video footage.
The jury trial begins at
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