Harehills shop in Court for dodgy food, fags and fakes

On Monday 9th January 2023 at Huddersfield Magistrates Court, Mr Salam Mohammed was sentenced to 100 hours community service and fined £346 plus £2,000 costs and a £95 victim surcharge having pleaded guilty to offences under the Food Safety and Hygiene (England) Regulations 2013 and the Trademarks Act 1994.

On 28th September 2021 Officers from Trading Standards inspected Mr Mohammed’s premises - Gihan Grocery Stores 278 Harehills Lane, Harehills and discovered 93 items of food past the use by date. Collectively these items were 498 days past their use by dates. In addition, a total of 261 packets of counterfeit cigarettes and 23 packets of illicit hand rolled tobacco together with 577 counterfeit L’Oréal face creams were discovered.

During an interview under caution Mr Mohammed stated he was aware that food should not be on display or sold past the use by date and a member of staff was responsible for checking dates. He stated that now regular checks are also carried out. He believed that the trademark breaches were his suppliers’ responsibility which is incorrect.

David Strover, Trading Standards Manager - Business Services Team at West Yorkshire Trading Standards said, “This case highlights the importance of business proprietors understanding the law that applies to all the products they sell and taking steps to ensure they comply.  Gihan Grocery Stores trading practices seriously breached various pieces of consumer protection legislation relating to food, cosmetics and tobacco, posing a risk to the local community.”

Councillor Pauleen Grahame, Member of the West Yorkshire Joint Services Committee which oversees the work of Trading Standards said, “Leeds residents are entitled to expect safe and “in date” food. Food past the use by date is automatically deemed unsafe by legislation. Businesses must ensure the food they supply is safe, appropriately labelled and not past its use by date.” 

Businesses are reminded to ensure that they undertake regular checks on items bearing use by dates, invest in appropriate staff training and record the checks they make. They are also responsible for the compliance of all goods that they sell.  Should consumers have concerns about shops selling out of date chilled food past its use by date, please contact the Citizens Advice Consumer Helpline on 0808 223 1133 to report this, this can be done anonymously.