Supermarket chain Asda has been slapped with a £300,000 penalty after failing to adhere to food safety regulations at its Cardiff store. The breach involved the sale of products past their use-by dates, posing potential health risks to consumers.
Cardiff Magistrates' Court handed down the substantial fine following an investigation by the local council's environmental health team. Inspectors discovered multiple instances where perishable goods, including meat and dairy products, were being sold beyond their safe consumption dates.
Repeated Offences Spark Concern
The court heard how Asda's Culverhouse Cross branch had committed similar violations in 2021, making this a recurring issue for the retailer. Environmental health officers found 33 separate instances of out-of-date products on shelves during their inspections.
"This wasn't just a one-off mistake," a council spokesperson stated. "We found a systemic failure in their food safety procedures that put consumers at risk."
Supermarket Giant Apologises
Asda has issued a public apology, acknowledging the seriousness of the breaches. A company representative stated: "We take food safety extremely seriously and have implemented additional training and procedures to prevent recurrence."
The case highlights growing concerns about food safety standards in major UK supermarkets, particularly as cost-of-living pressures might tempt some retailers to extend product shelf lives beyond safe limits.
What Consumers Should Know
- Always check use-by dates on perishable products
- Report any expired goods to store management
- Contact local environmental health if concerns persist
Food safety experts warn that consuming products past their use-by dates can lead to food poisoning, particularly with high-risk items like meat, poultry and dairy products.
