Manager Faces Hefty Fine for Selling Out-of-Date Mouldy Food in Lincolnshire Shop
Mahalingam Ragavan, the manager of Today's News, a prominent corner shop located on Rushcliffe Road in Grantham, Lincolnshire, is under the criminal scanner for selling spoiled food, and has been ordered to pay £5,740. Ragavan confessed to the violation of food safety codes during a hearing in Boston Magistrates' Court on Monday, September 26.
Offences Admitted
Ragavan admitted that he had sold a Rustlers Quarter Pounder six days past its ‘use by’ date, an Original Patty Co Jamaican patty five days expired and a Peter's chicken and bacon slice that was four days over its consumption date.
Council Reaction
Councillor Rhea Rayside, the cabinet member for people and communities at South Kesteven District Council weighed in on the matter saying, "While a majority of businesses across the district are responsible traders, I hope this sends a strong message to all that safety is a priority and we will take court action where necessary." She added that the situation could have been avoided by conducting 'simple checks and stock rotation'.
A Prior Offence
This isn’t the first time Ragavan has faced prosecution over food safety. In 2018, he was dealt a penalty of over £2,000 when he pleaded guilty to similar offences.
Safeguarding Measures
In his defence, Ragavan stated that he had been running the business responsibly for 25 years with the help of two staff members who were in charge of checking the food dates. He further produced a copy of a warning letter sent to the staff member he believed was at fault, adding that he had taken steps to improve the standards by putting his staff through food hygiene training.
Fine Breakdown
The court initially set the fine at £2,400 for the offence, but Ragavan's guilty plea led to a reduction to £1,600. However, with a surcharge of £360 and full prosecution costs totalling £3,780, he was hit with a final overall bill of £5,740.
Local Trading Standards
The United Kingdom follows strict food safety regulations. Retailers can lawfully sell wares beyond their 'best before' date but not beyond their 'use by' date as the items may no longer be safe for consumption.