Sainsbury's supermarket has been fined £28,000 and ordered to pay costs of £3,500 after being found guilty of 13 charges of selling food past its use-by date.
The store pleaded guilty to the charges brought by Essex County Council at Epping Magistrates Court on Friday.
The charges were brought after Essex Trading Standards offficers found several items past their use-by dates during routine investigations.
Officers then visited every Essex Sainsbury's store on 25 September, 2002 and problems were found in four including the store at William Hunter Way, Brentwood involving food items like pork pies, sausages, turkey fillets and low fat yoghurts.
Deputy Cabinet member for Trading Standards at Essex County Council, Cllr Roger Walters, said: "This case demonstates the need for all shops selling food to have robust systems in place to prevent them from selling food that is past its use by date, otherwise they could put people at risk of food poisoning.
"Our Trading Standards officers are always happy to work with traders to provide support and advice on this issue and in particular to assist retailers in ensuring that their systems operate correctly to protect the public."
Published Wednesday, June 25, 2003
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