November 13, 2019 10.16 am This story is over 51 months old

Grimsby shop fined for stocking severely out of date food

In total, the items were out of date by 94 days.

A Grimsby shop owner who stocked severely out of date food has been hit with a giant fine.

Pirabaharan Sabaratnam, 45, runs the Today’s Local shop on Edge Avenue and was caught out by a routine inspection in June.

Trading Standards officers found burgers, BBQ ribs and meatballs which were all well past their use by date.

In total, the items were out of date by 94 days.

When Sabaratnam was in court on November 8 he pleaded guilty and was fined £800.

Neil Clark, strategic lead for regulation and enforcement services at North East Lincolnshire Council, said: “Mr Sabaratnam had not owned the business for very long at the time of the offences.

“Although this was his first offence, unfortunately, it was severe enough for the authority to take immediate formal action.

“Our Trading Standards officers work hard to ensure the public’s safety and also give food business operators the direction and information they need to comply with food safety legislation.

“Food products that are given a ‘use by’ indication are done so as they are highly perishable items and consuming them after the date indicated may make someone seriously ill or worse.

“We need to protect consumers from businesses who flout the law and put people’s health at risk.”