Shopkeeper fined for selling out-of-date food

A shopkeeper has been fined £11,713 after selling food that was up to 38 days past its use by date.

Hallo Omid, 39, of Berkshire Court, Bury, who was director of the now-closed Kofola shop in Great Horton Road, Bradford, pleaded guilty to 19 food hygiene offences when he appeared before Bradford and Keighley magistrates.

Some of the 120 out-of-date food items found by safety inspectors included cottage cheese, buttermilk, black pudding and various meats. There was also a lack of hot water and soap in the only hand basin in the shop.

Magistrates told Mr Omid he had shown "a clear disregard for the importance of food safety".

Imran Hussain, prosecuting on behalf of Bradford Council, said inspectors initially visited the shop on 8 December 2022 after they received complaints that Kofola was selling out-of-date food.

He said the inspectors "removed a large number of items" that were, in total, 2,626 days [seven years and two months] past their use by date.

He said: "120 food items were exposed for sale that were past their use by date.

"There were dairy products including natural butter milk that was 38 days past its use by date and cottage cheese 35 days past its use by date, vacuum packed meats and chicken.

"In total the items were 2,626 days past their use by date."

He went on to say that Mr Omid was given a hygiene improvement notice but, when inspectors returned in late January, there was "evidence the notice hadn't been complied with".

They discovered more food that was past its sell by date bringing the total amount of time to 3,186 days [eight years and eight months].

Mr Hussain said: "It was clear Omid had shown a clear disregard for the importance of food safety."

The shop has since closed and the court heard that Mr Omid has been considering moving to Belgium to make a new life for himself, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

The court heard that as well as selling out-of-date food there was no "designated hand washbasin in the area where raw and ready-to-eat foods are handled".

Inspectors also found "the basement food store was damp and in a poor condition and could not be adequately cleaned with numerous cigarette butts on the floor".

Mr Khan, defending Mr Omid, said: "This was a case where an individual was trying to run a business without doing his research."

Mr Walker, chair of the bench, told him that he had "shown a wilful blindness with regards to food hygiene and safety requirements".

He was fined £5,000, ordered to pay £4,713 costs to Bradford Council and a £2,000 surcharge.

He was also told he would have to pay the fine at a rate of £250 a month and failure to pay could result in him being sent to prison.

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