Tesco's fined for food hygiene offences
Octo15
Tesco supermarket on Old Tiffield Road, Towcester, Northamptonshire, has been fined £30,000 and ordered to pay £9,500 prosecution costs by Towcester Magistrates Court after pleading guilty to four food hygiene offences
South Northamptonshire Council prosecuted Tesco following a thorough investigation into the store’s food hygiene practices. Council food safety officers were initially alerted after a member of the public made a complaint (on 8 July 2009) that she had been sold food items contaminated by mouse droppings.
Officers discovered poor standards of cleanliness with items of gnawed food, dirt, food debris, packaging and mouse droppings found on shelves. Further evidence of an active mouse infestation was highlighted when a food safety officer caught a live mouse on the shop floor. One aisle in particular was closed until the area was free from mice.
Councillor Rebecca Breese, Portfolio Holder for Environment and Waste Management, said: “This is another good example of how seriously the Council treats breaches of food hygiene rules and regulations and the rigorous action we take against companies, big or small, that fail to comply with them. This prosecution sends out a strong message that should public health be threatened in any way, we will respond in a timely and appropriate manner.”