Asda fined £410k for selling out-of-date food

Asda has been hit with a fine exceeding £400,000 after two of its supermarkets in Cornwall were discovered selling expired food products.

An inquiry by Cornwall Council’s Trading Standards Team uncovered 58 expired items on display at Asda’s Penryn branch on 30 October 2023, Cornwall Live reported.

A follow-up inspection at the Hayle store on 1 November 2023 revealed another four products being sold beyond their use-by dates.

On Wednesday (23 April), the supermarket giant admitted to two offences related to offering unsafe food for sale during a hearing at Plymouth Magistrates’ Court.

The charges referred to 62 food items that were past their use-by date.

District Judge Jo Matson said although there were systems in place to prevent the sale of food after the use-by date, they were not adhered to.

She stated that Asda’s response “were not sufficient” following concerns raised by both customers and Trading Standards.

According to Cornwall Council, a significant number of the expired products were “ready to eat foods,” including children’s yoghurts that were close to four weeks past their use-by date.

The council added: “Use-by dates are applied to highly perishable foods that could pose a serious health risk if consumed after this date and Food Standards Agency guidance states they should not be eaten.”

Asda Stores Ltd has been fined £410,000, and was also ordered to pay £20,582.70 in prosecution costs, along with a £2,000 victim surcharge.

Jane Tomlinson, the Trading Standards group leader at Cornwall Council, said: “Consumers should be confident that the food they buy is safe to eat.

“We hope that the steps Asda Stores Ltd have now put in place will prevent the sale of out-of-date food in future.”

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