Laura Sharman 20 April 2021

Council action sees Tesco fined £7.5m for selling out of date food

Council action sees Tesco fined £7.5m for selling out of date food image

Tesco has been fined £7.5m for selling out of date food after a successful prosecution brought by Birmingham City Council.

The council took action after inspections found food being sold past its ‘use by’ date in three stores on several occasions.

Tesco pleaded guilty for a total of 22 offences across the three stores, totalling 67 separate items. It has been ordered to pay a fine of £7.56m and £95,500 costs.

Mark Croxford, head of environmental health for Birmingham City Council, said: ‘There were numerous missed opportunities to check the dates on these products and remove them from display – and the fact incidents were found on several occasions, in different stores and over 14 months, was a major concern.

’This case offers a warning to all retailers to ensure their stock is in date and that if found to be breaching these regulations we will take action – as we have successfully done against one of the UK’s biggest supermarket chains.’

A spokesperson for Tesco said: 'The safety of our customers is always our priority and these incidents are not representative of the high standards of safety and quality we expect in Tesco stores.

''We took immediate action to address this at the time and we want to reassure our customers that we have robust procedures in place to make sure that this doesn’t happen.'

SIGN UP
For your free daily news bulletin
Highways jobs

Executive Director of Adult Care Services

Hertfordshire County Council
£158,000
This is an exciting time to be joining Hertfordshire County Council. Hertfordshire
Recuriter: Hertfordshire County Council

Assistant Director - People & Change

Cambridgeshire County Council
Up to £91,625 + generous pension
Cambridge is a city of global reputation and local pride – a place of ideas, innovation and inclusion. Cambridge, Cambridgeshire
Recuriter: Cambridgeshire County Council

Head of Public Confidence and Assurance

York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority
£71,425 - £80,216
The York andNorth YorkshireCombined Authority is at a pivotal point. York, North Yorkshire
Recuriter: York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority

Strategic Director of Finance (S151)

Tameside Metropolitan Borough Council
C £130K
Are you an inspiring and strategic leader ready to make a lasting impact? Tameside, Greater Manchester
Recuriter: Tameside Metropolitan Borough Council

Strategic Director of Corporate Services

Tameside Metropolitan Borough Council
C £130K
Are you an inspiring and strategic leader ready to make a lasting impact? Tameside, Greater Manchester
Recuriter: Tameside Metropolitan Borough Council
Linkedin Banner