Asda has received a fine of £500,000 for selling expired food at one of its UK supermarket locations. The Barnsley branch was found to have items more than two weeks past their expiration date, including hummus tubs that were 16 days overdue. Further investigations by the Barnsley Council Trading Standards team revealed expired pizzas and curries as well.
Asda admitted guilt to five violations under the Food Safety Act and was instructed to pay £507,767 in fines and expenses on January 29. The supermarket has since implemented new date checking procedures in all its stores.
A spokesperson from Barnsley Trading Standards stated that despite improvements made post these incidents, such as implementing a new checking system, retraining staff, and increasing audits, the substantial fine of £100,000 per violation sends a strong message against non-compliance. Cllr Wendy Cain, representing Barnsley Council’s public health, emphasized their commitment to ensuring community safety and enforcing the sale of safe food by businesses of all sizes.
An Asda spokesperson expressed disappointment over the discovery of outdated products at their Barnsley store in 2024, acknowledging that it did not meet customer expectations or their own standards. They have since introduced a new date code checking process in all Asda stores to guarantee the availability of fresh products for customers.
In related news, grocery price inflation eased to 4% in January, the lowest level since April, according to market research firm Worldpanel by Numerator. This marks a decrease from the 4.3% reported in December, with Asda sales showing a 3.7% decline compared to the previous year.
Consumer trends indicated a demand for high-protein and high-fiber foods, with sales of cottage cheese increasing by 50% annually. Additionally, sales of fresh fruit, dried pulses, fresh fish, poultry, and chilled yogurt saw year-on-year growth.