Asda has been penalized with a £500,000 fine for selling expired food products at one of its supermarkets in the UK. The Barnsley branch was found to have items, such as hummus, pizzas, and curries, that were more than two weeks past their sell-by dates, with some hummus tubs being 16 days overdue.
Following an investigation by the Barnsley Council Trading Standards team, Asda admitted to five violations under the Food Safety Act and was directed to pay £507,767 in fines and costs on January 29. The supermarket has since implemented new procedures to check product dates in all its stores.
A spokesperson from Barnsley Trading Standards mentioned that despite improvements made by Asda, a hefty fine of £100,000 per offense serves as a stern warning against non-compliance. Cllr Wendy Cain, the public health representative for Barnsley Council, emphasized the commitment to community safety and the expectation for businesses to prioritize selling safe food.
In response, an Asda representative expressed disappointment over the presence of expired products at the Barnsley store in 2024, stating that it did not meet customer expectations. The company has introduced a revised date code checking system across all Asda locations to ensure the availability of fresh products for customers.
Recent data from market research firm Worldpanel by Numerator revealed a decline in grocery price inflation to 4% in January, the lowest level since April, down from December’s 4.3%. Asda reported a 3.7% decrease in sales compared to the previous year.
Consumer trends showed a rise in demand for high-protein and high-fiber foods, with sales of cottage cheese increasing by 50% year-on-year. Additionally, sales of fresh fruit, dried pulses, fresh fish, poultry, and chilled yogurt saw growth percentages ranging from 3% to 6%.
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