Bradford shop sells unsafe food

On the 22^nd July 2024, New Hey Limited trading as New Hey Store, 124 New Hey Road, Bradford appeared at Kirklees Magistrates Court to answer a case brought by West Yorkshire Trading Standards Service (WYTSS) for having for sale food that was past its Use By date. The case was launched after WYTSS received a complaint from a member of the public that the business was selling food items past their Use By date. In July 2023 Trading Standards Officers from WYTSS visited the business premises and found 22 items past their Use By date, totalling 271 days.

Foods with a ‘Use By’ date are  highly perishable and should not be sold nor  consumed after the date marked on the packaging. Once past their ‘Use By’ date they are deemed unsafe for consumption and thus it is an offence to make such items available for sale.

Mr Dipen Patel pleaded guilty to the company committing the offences under Regulation 19(1) of the Food Safety and Hygiene (England) Regulations 2013 and was fined £2666 reduced for a guilty plea and ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £1066 and costs of £1941-54. Mr Patel also pleaded guilty  to being charged with the sale of food  past its ‘Use By’ date was fined £576 and ordered to pay a surcharge of £235.

David Strover, Head of Trading Standards (Business Services)  said, “all retailers need an effective process for checking dates on food.  In this case the shop did not stock rotate adequately  and went on to expose for sale food past its use by date that was unsafe.  Although the number of items was not the worst we have encountered, the length of time past the date marked on the pack was considerable, and the items were unsafe for human consumption. Trading standards officers do routinely receive complaints about out-of-date food,  and we will undertake enforcement visits to investigate allegations of unsafe food being supplied in West Yorkshire.”

Councillor Sue Duffy, Deputy Chair of the West Yorkshire Joint Services Committee that oversees the work of trading standards said “it is clearly irresponsible not to check date codes on food - we would hope this case highlights the need for food retailers to be diligent. Trading Standards will investigate complaints about out-of-date food and take enforcement action in appropriate circumstances where serious breaches occur.”

Consumers wishing to report illegal trading practices, including the sale of out-of-date food can call the Citizens Advice Consumer Helpline on 0808 223 1133 to report their concerns - this can be done anonymously.