A café has been fined £2,000 for selling out of date food.

Nosh, based in Stevenage town centre, was found to have sold a “significant amount” of out-of- date food between November 2012 and January 2013.

Mariana Cosmina Precup, the food business operator at Nosh, pleaded guilty at Stevenage Magistrates Court’ on Monday this week for two offences under the Food Labelling Regulations Act. She had sold food beyond its use-by date and altered the date of perishable food in her possession.

The court was shown photographs of examples of out-of-date food that had been sold. These included sliced turkey breast which was 10 days out of date and sandwich fillings 13 days out of date.

Miss Precup was also ordered to pay a contribution to the council’s costs of £3,015 and a victim surcharge of £120.

Cllr Richard Henry, executive member for safer and stronger communities at Stevenage Borough Council, said: “Selling food that is beyond its use by date is a serious offence and the increased risk of food poisoning from consumption of such food could have severe consequences.”

A spokesman for Nosh said: “Prior to the incidents reported, the Stevenage store had been operated with the extremely high levels of hygiene, quality and safety our company expects. When made aware of the issues at Stevenage, thorough and appropriate action was immediately taken to address the situation and ensure the previously high standards were restored.

“Nosh will endeavour to ensure that no similar incidents are allowed to occur in the future.”