Shop fined for selling out of date food

Out of date yoghurts, burgers, brie and salami have landed a Brighton shop and its owner with hefty fines.

Officers from Brighton & Hove City Council’s Trading Standards team found the out of date goods on sale in Easy News in Trafalgar Street during a routine visit.

Last Friday (December 4) the shop’s proprietor Golden Wish Limited and director Fedaa Assaf were each fined £2,500 after admitting selling food after the use-by date. Golden Wish Limited was also ordered to pay £825 costs, £180 criminal court charge and £120 victim support. Mr Assaf was ordered to pay a criminal court charge of £180 and £120 victim surcharge.

Len Batten, prosecuting on behalf of Brighton & Hove City Council, told magistrates that council Trading Standards officers visited Easy News on August 5 this year and found a variety of food on sale after the use by date. Items included Lunchables ham and cheese crackers, houmous dip, Rustlers chicken burgers, brie, peach yoghurt, natural yoghurt and German salami. Most of the products were between one and six weeks past their use by date.

Councillor Gill Mitchell, chair of the council’s Environment, Transport and Sustainability Committee said: “Selling food after the use by date can have very serious consequences for both the retailer and the consumer.

“I hope this case will remind traders of the importance of regularly checking their stock, and also reassure residents that our trading standards officers will continue their work to protect the consumer, by inspecting premises and prosecuting offenders.”

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