Food safety inspectors discovered dozens of out-of-date food products on sale following complaints from customers
An Asda store has been found selling children’s yoghurts which were weeks out of date. Packs of Petit Filous were among a number of foods found on sale beyond their use-by date.
The discovery at the supermarket’s Penryn branch in Cornwall came after complaints from customers led to a county-wide investigation by Trading Standards officers. They discovered dozens of items at the store were out of date.
Investigators said their findings included several products aimed at children. These included the yoghurts, which were nearly four weeks out of date.
Any food displayed for sale past its use-by date is legally deemed to be unsafe. Now Asda Stores Ltd has been ordered to pay more than £430,000 following a hearing at Plymouth Magistrates Court.
Investigators from Cornwall Council’s Trading Standard’s department acted after receiving a number of consumer complaints. The team launched a county-wide investigation into the sale of out-of-date food at supermarkets.
An inspection at the Penryn store on October 30, 2023, found 58 food items on shelves which were beyond their use-by date. Cornwall Trading Standards spokesman said: “Many of these were ready to eat foods including children’s yoghurts which were nearly four weeks past their use-by date.
“A separate inspection at the Asda store in Hayle on November 1, 2023, found a further four items past the use-by date.” At a hearing at Plymouth Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday, April 23, Asda Stores Ltd admitted two charges of having unsafe food on offer for sale.
This was contrary to regulation 19 of the Food Safety and Hygiene (England) Regulations 2013. The charges referred to 62 food items that were past their use-by date.
District Judge Jo Matson said that there were systems in place to prevent the sale of food after the expiry of the use by date, these were not adhered to. She added that after concerns had been raised by customers and Trading Standards officers, the actions taken by Asda were not sufficient.
Asda Stores Ltd was fined £410,000. It was also ordered to pay prosecution costs of £20,582.70 and a victim surcharge of £2,000.
Use-by dates are applied to highly perishable foods whihc could pose a serious health risk if eaten after this date. Under Food Standards Agency guidance they should not be eaten.
Jane Tomlinson, Trading Standards Group Leader at Cornwall Council, said: “We are committed to ensuring that the food sold to consumers is safe and it is disappointing that on these occasions, we found items for sale which could have presented a danger to the public.
“Consumers should be confident that the food they buy is safe to eat. We hope that the steps Asda Stores Ltd have now put in place will prevent the sale of out-of-date food in future.”
