U.S. Investigates Food Supplier for Troops in Iraq

from National Public Radio

Federal investigators reportedly are looking into the deals that several U.S. food companies made to supply the U.S. military in Iraq. The Wall Street Journal reports the probe focuses on whether the companies set excessively high prices when they sold their goods to the Army's primary food contractor for the war zone, Kuwait-based Public Warehousing Company. It bought food from prominent U.S. suppliers such as ConAgra, Perdue Farms and Sarah Lee, and is suspected of paying inflated prices — some of which was allegedly kicked back to Public Warehousing. The Army says that in any given month, the troops consume about $3 million worth of beef steak, more than $2 million worth of lobster tails, and more than $700,000 for egg rolls.

Broadcast Dates

• Morning Edition, October 17, 2007