The BBC reports that Tesco Stores Ltd admitted 22 breaches of Food Safety and Hygiene Regulations and were handed the penalty at Birmingham Magistrates’ Court on Monday.
Mark Croxford, head of environmental health at Birmingham City Council, which brought the prosecution, said it would take action against any retailers found breaching legislation.
Out-of-date items were found on sale at two Tesco Express stores in the city centre and Bournville, and at a Tesco Metro in Bristol Road South during checks by inspectors.
During the inspections, they found:
- Products including pizza, doughballs, soup, pork belly slices, potato salad, trifle and flavoured milk between one and 17 days out of date at the Bournville store in April 2016
- Scotch eggs, quiche Lorraine, Little Dish children’s meals, chicken and veg risotto and pasta bolognaise were among 25 items out-of-date at the Bristol Road South shop in June 2017
- Falafel and houmous wraps, grapes and strawberries, and berry medley pots on display past their ‘use by’ date at the Carrs Lane store the same month, with grapes having visible mould
In the judgement, District Judge Qureshi said “the industry is undermined as a whole by Tesco’s offending”.
The chain, he said, “tried to argue food is still consumable after the use by date and it should not be an offence.”
The judge was also critical of a scientist, called by Tesco, who “compared the cotton-like mould on grapes to the mould in blue cheese” and found bacteria levels safe to eat – calling the defence “implausible”.
Mark Croxford, head of environmental health at Birmingham City Council, which brought the prosecution, said it would take action against any retailers found breaching legislation.
