Most U.S. taxpayers would agree with the need for restraint in government spending and for government agencies to follow established policies governing procurement of products and services. However, the reported cost of a muffin at a recent government meeting was most likely inaccurate.

In contrast to press reports that the Justice Department paid as much as $16 per muffin at a meeting in Washington, Hilton Worldwide noted that the contracted breakfast included fresh fruit, coffee, juice, and muffins, plus tax and gratuity for an all-inclusive price of $16 per person. That compares very favorably to the prices paid by the United States Senate for services provided by its own caterer.