Pub Fined For Out-Of-Date Food Sales

The landlady of the Chequers Public House in Wrestlingworth has been fined £300 plus £603 costs after pleading guilty by post, by Bedford Magistrates Court, for selling food up to 55 days past its use by date.

In the case brought by Mid Beds District Council on 9 August, Mrs Patricia Archer pleaded guilty to exposing for sale 23 food items past their  ‘use-by’ date, which is contrary to Regulation  44(1)(d) of the Food Labelling Regulations 1996.
 
A Mid Beds District Council Environmental Health Officer, inspected the premises on 31 January this year and found food items for sale that ranged between one and 55 days beyond their use-by date.

These include:
crumbly Lancashire cheese  - Use by 20 Dec
cheddar with Horseradish & Parsley – Use by 7 Dec
Blue Stilton – Use by 10 Jan
White Stilton Mango & Ginger – Use by 31 Dec
Normandy Camembert – Use by 8 Jan
Grated Mozzarella – Use by 15 Dec
Coleslaw – Use by 21 Jan
Tomato and Basil Soup – Use by 20 Jan

A Mid Beds Spokesperson said: “Foods with a use by date are highly perishable and could pose a risk if consumed after that date, even if it looks and smells fine.  This is why we as a council have a duty to act.

“Customers put their trust in food outlets, to provide food that is safe to consume.  While we are not aware of any cases of illness arising from eating these particular foods at this pub, this is probably more a matter of good fortune rather than anything else.

“The use by date on the packaging should always be followed to avoid the risk of food poisoning and should take precedence over any other instruction such as  “eat within 3 days of opening.”