Tesco fined £7.56 Million but the FSA keep quiet!

Why is it that the Food Standard Agency (FSA) appear to be keeping quiet on the public front, when supermarkets either breach the law or fail to meet targets they have set for them to ensure food safety?

On Monday 19th April 2021 Tesco was fined £7.56 Million for selling a variety of food past its “use by” date in three stores in Birmingham between 2015-2017.

Link to this new story below from the BBC.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-birmingham-56806641

In the Judgement against Tesco Stores Ltd from this case (Link below where this document can then be downloaded) it states in the sentencing outline under background, in point 1 “In brief, this prosecution alleges that Tesco played ‘Russian Roulette’ with customer’s safety”. (The prosecution being Birmingham City Council).

https://www.birmingham.gov.uk/downloads/file/19238/bir%20mingham_city_council_judgement_against_tesco_store%20s_ltd_190421

On the 22/01/2019 a judge has ruled that Tesco’s defence experts’ evidence was inadmissible. However, Tesco decided to appeal to the High Court.

Tesco’s High Court appeal was initially refused permission but they continued with their argument.

Then on 06/04/2020 the High Court ruled the legislation provisions are unambiguous’ and the submission by Tesco was looking at it with “inappropriate myopia”. (myopia being short sighted).

On the 21/09/2020 Tesco entered a guilty plea.

Well done to those involved at Birmingham City Council for those involved in bringing this case and for their persistence in doing so. Birmingham City Council were also awarded costs of £95.000.

Whilst the FSA has made comments in their news posts on their website about other food businesses who have been prosecuted previously, they appear to have remained silent in this case.

It should be noted that Tesco has been convicted for similar offences on 25/09/2020 at Reading Magistrates’ Court. This occurred in October 2017 at their Warfield, Bracknell store and they were fined £160,000, with additionally having to pay a victim’s surcharge of £170 and costs of £7,756.50.

Again, the FSA appear to have kept silent. Link below to that story.

28 September 2020 - Press Release Tesco fined £160,000 for out of date food