Asda has received a fine of £500,000 for selling expired food at one of its British supermarket locations. The Barnsley store was found to have items, including hummus, that were over two weeks past their sell-by date. Subsequent investigations by the Barnsley Council Trading Standards team revealed pizzas and curries also past their expiration dates. Asda admitted guilt to five violations under the Food Safety Act and was instructed to pay £507,767 in penalties and expenses on January 29. The supermarket has since implemented new procedures for checking product dates at all its stores.
A representative from Barnsley Trading Standards commented that despite improvements made following the offenses, including enhanced checking systems, retraining, and increased store audits, the substantial fine of £100,000 per violation sends a strong message against non-compliance. Cllr Wendy Cain from Barnsley Council’s public health division emphasized the commitment to maintaining community safety, stressing that businesses must only sell safe food. This outcome underscores the prioritization of public health and safety.
An Asda spokesperson expressed disappointment over the discovery of expired products at the Barnsley store in 2024, acknowledging a failure to meet customer expectations and internal standards. The spokesperson highlighted the swift introduction of a new date code verification process in all Asda stores to ensure the availability of fresh products for customers. This initiative reflects Asda’s dedication to quality assurance and customer satisfaction.
Market research firm Worldpanel by Numerator reported a decrease in grocery price inflation to 4% in January, the lowest level since April. Asda’s sales declined by 3.7% compared to the previous year. Consumer trends indicated a demand for high-protein and high-fibre foods, with a notable increase in cottage cheese sales. Additionally, sales of fresh fruit, dried pulses, fresh fish, poultry, and chilled yogurt saw year-on-year growth.
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