PORTLAND — A Westbrook woman pleaded guilty Friday to adulterating a food item — namely a bottle of fish oil capsules — with intent to defraud during a hearing in U.S. District Court.

Kathy Jordan, 61, bought a bottle of fish oil capsules, face cream and shampoo from a retail pharmacy store near her home on April 3, 2012, according to court documents.

She returned all three items the next day for a full refund. A week later, the bottle of fish oil capsules was resold to another customer. That customer discovered the bottle contained other pills besides to fish oil and returned the bottle to the pharmacy.

The pharmacy determined that some of the fish oil capsules had been removed and replaced with stool softener capsules and Dilantin, a prescription anti-seizure medication.

Jordan told investigators she returned the bottle of fish oil capsules after substituting some of the fish oil with other drugs in her home so she could get a full refund.

Jordan faces up to three years in jail and a fine of up to $250,000. She will be sentenced after completion of a presentence investigation report by the U.S. Probation Office.

This charge against Jordan was the result of an investigation by the Food and Drug Administration and Office of Inspector General.