Asda has been penalized with a £500,000 fine for selling expired food at one of its UK supermarket outlets. The violation at the Barnsley store in 2024 included items like hummus that were 16 days past their sell-by date and other expired products such as pizzas and curries, as revealed by the Barnsley Council Trading Standards team.
Asda admitted guilt to five violations under the Food Safety Act and was instructed to pay £507,767 in fines and costs on January 29. The supermarket has since implemented enhanced date checking procedures in all its stores.
A spokesperson from Barnsley Trading Standards stated that despite improvements made post the offenses, including the implementation of a new checking system, retraining, and increased auditing, the substantial £100,000 fine per violation sends a strong 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 only offer safe food. The fine serves as a clear reminder that prioritizing health and safety is paramount, with actions taken against businesses failing to comply with regulations.
An Asda representative expressed disappointment over the presence of expired products at the Barnsley store in 2024, acknowledging the failure to meet customer expectations. Following this incident, Asda has enforced a new date code checking process in all its stores to ensure the availability of fresh products for customers.
In other news, grocery price inflation eased to 4% in January, its lowest level since April, as reported by market research firm Worldpanel by Numerator. Asda’s sales showed a 3.7% decline compared to the previous year.
Consumer trends indicated a rise in demand for high-protein and high-fibre foods, with notable increases in sales of cottage cheese, fresh fruit, dried pulses, fresh fish, poultry, and chilled yogurt.
This article was rewritten to provide a clear and concise overview of Asda’s fine for selling expired food, the subsequent actions taken, and additional market insights on grocery price inflation and consumer food preferences.
