Undersized lobsters seized from grocery chain

SCHENECTADY, N.Y. (AP) -- State conservation officers have seized more than 1,100 pounds of undersized lobsters from two Price Chopper supermarkets and the company's distribution center.

The Department of Environmental Conservation says Thursday an investigation was launched in March when officers found short lobsters at two Price Chopper stores in Binghamton.

On Tuesday, officers found 820 lobsters, or 15 percent of the inventory, were undersized at the Schenectady distribution center. The retailer could be fined up to $100 for each lobster.

Size restrictions have been placed on lobsters to protect the fishing stock.

Price Chopper spokeswoman Mona Golub said the company's Cape Cod lobster supplier violated its product specification, and the retailer has since switched to another supplier.

DEC donated the seized lobsters to the Regional Food Bank of Northeastern New York in Latham.