Dec 2006 : Co-operative Group fined for Selling Food Past It’s ‘Use By’ Date
The national supermarket chain Co-operative Group (CWS) Ltd have been fined after selling a number of food items past their ‘Use By’ date.
The Co-op Store, High Street, Market Lavington, has been fined £1,000 and ordered to pay £1,000 costs at Salisbury Magistrates on 14th December 2006, after admitting two specimen charges under the Food Labelling Regulations 1996.
Anna Manning, District Environmental Health Officer for Kennet District Council, Environmental Health and Protection Services Department visited the store on 9th February 2006 to carry out a routine inspection. The 6 items were found displayed for sale in the chiller cabinets on the shop floor. The Chicken Tikka Masala and Rice were dated 6th February 2006, 3 days past their ‘Use By’ date and the yogurts were dated 8th February 2006, one day past their ‘Use By’ date.
The Co-operative’s in house management systems had also failed, as records for durability checks that should have been carried out on 8th & 9th February 2006 had not been completed.
‘A ‘Use By’ date is displayed on food to inform people of the date by which it should be eaten, it is only put on highly perishable foods which are likely to cause ill health after that date, and should never be sold after the date has expired’.
In the previous calendar year leading up to these events, Trading Standards Officers from Wiltshire County Council had also found food items on sale past their ‘Use By’ date on three separate occasions, despite extensive advice being given to the company.
Cllr. Paula Winchcombe, Member Champion for Well Being said:
“I hope that this prosecution demonstrates to food retailers the importance of taking due care over the safety of the food they sell, and that it also reassures the public that the Council will take appropriate steps to ensure food businesses fully comply with the relevant law”.