Asda has received a £500,000 fine for selling expired food at one of its UK supermarket outlets. The Barnsley branch was found to have items more than two weeks past their sell-by date in 2024, including hummus tubs that were 16 days expired. Additionally, pizzas and curries were also discovered to be out of date during an investigation conducted by the Barnsley Council Trading Standards team.
Asda admitted guilt to five offenses under the Food Safety Act and was instructed to pay £507,767 in fines and costs on January 29. The supermarket has since implemented new date checking procedures in all its stores.
Following these incidents, a Barnsley Trading Standards spokesperson stated that despite improvements made, such as a revised checking system, retraining, and increased store audits, the substantial £100,000 fine per offense sends a clear message against non-compliance. Cllr Wendy Cain, the public health spokesperson for Barnsley Council, emphasized the commitment to community safety and the expectation for businesses to sell only safe food. This significant outcome reinforces the prioritization of health and safety over profit when businesses fail to adhere to regulations.
An Asda spokesperson expressed disappointment over the discovery of expired products at the Barnsley store in 2024, acknowledging the failure to meet customer expectations and internal standards. The company has since introduced a new date code checking process in all Asda stores to ensure the availability of fresh products for customers.
Market research firm Worldpanel by Numerator reported a decrease in grocery price inflation to 4% in January, marking its lowest level since April. Asda sales declined by 3.7% compared to the previous year. Consumer trends showed a growing interest in high-protein and high-fiber foods, with notable increases in sales of cottage cheese, fresh fruit, dried pulses, fresh fish, poultry, and chilled yoghurt.
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