Asda has been fined £500,000 for selling expired food at one of its UK supermarket branches. The Barnsley store was found to have products, such as hummus, pizzas, and curries, that were more than two weeks past their sell-by dates. Following an investigation by the Barnsley Council Trading Standards team, Asda admitted to five Food Safety Act violations and was ordered to pay £507,767 in fines and costs 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 by Asda, including a revamped checking system and increased store audits, the significant fines per offense send a clear message against non-compliance. Similarly, Cllr Wendy Cain of Barnsley Council emphasized the commitment to community safety and the expectation for businesses to prioritize selling safe food. Asda expressed disappointment over the incident and assured that corrective measures have been taken to enhance date code checks across all stores.
In other news, grocery price inflation eased to 4% in January, marking a decline from December’s 4.3%. Asda’s sales decreased by 3.7% compared to the previous year. The report revealed that an increasing number of shoppers are seeking high-protein and high-fiber products, with notable rises in sales of cottage cheese, fresh fruit, dried pulses, fresh fish, poultry, and chilled yogurt.
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