Asda has been penalized with a fine of £500,000 for selling expired products at one of its British supermarket locations. The Barnsley branch was found to have items, such as hummus, pizzas, and curries, that were over two weeks past their expiration 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 for checking product dates in all its stores.
In response to the incident, an Asda spokesperson expressed disappointment at the presence of out-of-date products at the Barnsley store in 2024, acknowledging a failure to meet customer expectations. The company has enforced a revised date code checking system across all Asda outlets to ensure the availability of fresh products for shoppers.
Regarding market trends, grocery price inflation decreased to 4% in January, the lowest level since April, according to market research firm Worldpanel by Numerator. Asda’s sales experienced a 3.7% decline compared to the previous year. Notably, consumer demand showed a preference for high-protein and high-fibre foods, with a significant increase in sales of cottage cheese, fresh fruit, dried pulses, fresh fish, poultry, and chilled yoghurt.
The outcome of this regulatory action sends a strong message emphasizing the importance of food safety compliance. Barnsley Council and Asda have both reiterated their commitment to prioritizing public health and ensuring the availability of safe products for consumers.