Asda has received a fine of £500,000 for selling expired food at one of its UK supermarket branches. The Barnsley store was found to have items, such as hummus, pizzas, and curries, that were more than two weeks past their expiration dates during 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 procedures for checking dates in all its stores.
A spokesperson from Barnsley Trading Standards stated that despite improvements made after the offenses, including a new checking system and increased auditing, the significant fines per offense serve as a warning against non-compliance.
Cllr Wendy Cain, the public health spokesperson for Barnsley Council, emphasized the commitment to community safety and the expectation for businesses to sell only safe food. She highlighted that the enforcement actions taken prioritize people’s health and safety.
An Asda representative expressed disappointment over the presence of expired products at the Barnsley store, underscoring the importance of meeting customer expectations for quality standards. The company has introduced a new date code checking process in all its stores to ensure fresh products are consistently available for customers.
Additionally, grocery price inflation eased to 4% in January, the lowest level since April, according to market research firm Worldpanel by Numerator. Asda’s sales saw a 3.7% decline compared to the previous year.
Shopper trends indicated a demand for high-protein and high-fiber foods, with increased purchases of cottage cheese, fresh fruit, dried pulses, fresh fish, poultry, and chilled yogurt. Sales of these products showed year-on-year growth, reflecting evolving consumer preferences.
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