THE owners of a small supermarket have been ordered to pay almost £3,000 for offering to sell out-of-date food. Shailesh and Smita Patel, who run the Potton Food Store in the town s Market Square, pleaded guilty at Bedford Magistrates Court last Thursday

THE owners of a small supermarket have been ordered to pay almost £3,000 for offering to sell out-of-date food.

Shailesh and Smita Patel, who run the Potton Food Store in the town's Market Square, pleaded guilty at Bedford Magistrates' Court last Thursday to offering for sale over 30 items that were beyond their use-by date.

The court heard that an environmental health officer from Mid Beds District Council, which took out the prosecution, made several visits to the store between October 31 and November 13 last year and in total 37 items were found in the display chiller cabinet past their use-by date.

All items were immediately removed.

Under the Food Labelling Regulations 1996, it is an offence to display or sell food after the use-by date.

The council said foods with a use-by date are highly perishable and could pose a risk to health if consumed after that date.

Both Patels were fined £750 each and each ordered to pay £731.50 in costs.

Cllr Max McMurdo, the environmental services portfolio holder at the council, said: "Selling out-of-date food is not acceptable.

"Proprietors must ensure that they have effective stock rotation systems in place so that consumers can purchase food without risk.

"Our environmental health officers will continue to monitor shops and we will always prosecute when we find food beyond its sell-by date still on sale.

"It is illegal to sell food that has exceeded its sell-by date and shops should do more to make sure it does not happen because the health of customers is at stake."