The supermarket chain Safeway has been fined £12,000 for leaving food past its "use by" date on the shelves of its Acomb store in York.

In the biggest case of its kind brought to court by the City of York Council, the company was found guilty of four charges under the Food Safety Act in a three-day trial at Selby Magistrates' Court.

Environmental health chiefs said today that the case sent a clear warning to other supermarkets in the city that the council would not hesitate to take legal action to protect customers.

Officers from the council's food unit visited the Safeway store in Front Street on June 12 last year for a routine inspection and found 27 items on the shelves which were past their "use by" dates.

Four of these were brought to court. They included:

Low fat yoghurt, dated June 8.

A packet of fresh tomato soup, with a use by date of June 9;

Pasta salad, dated June 10;

Buffet pork pies, dated June 10;

Among the other items seized were packets of bacon, haggis, kippers, chicken portions and orange juice.

The company was fined £3,000 on each charge and ordered to pay £6,000 costs.

It was the biggest fine seen in a "use by" case brought by environmental health officers at the City of York Council.

Andy Hudson, head of environmental health services at the City of York Council, said: "Officers from the food unit have a programme of inspections of all supermarkets and food premises in the city and this prosecution could serve as a warning to others in the city that the council is keen to enforce standards in order to protect the consumer.

"We hope this is a one-off, but wherever we do undertake inspections and find infringements we will take legal proceedings.

"The unit is keen to work with businesses to assist them in achieving the high standards in food production and retailing that legislation demands and the public expects."

He said routine inspections of major stores took place at least once a year.

A spokeswoman for Safeway said: "Safeway takes food safety very seriously and is obviously disappointed with the verdict.

"We already have comprehensive checking systems in place, but in view of the magistrates' decision, we will instigate further reviews of procedures at our Acomb store."

The Acomb store was given a £1.1 million refit last year and re-opened in December after a 10-week closure for the work to be done.

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