A Southend shop has been fined £5,000 after being caught selling "high-risk" out-of-date food.

Southend Council has been cracking down on traders who fail to comply with food safety regulations, with a clear message that non-compliance will result in prosecution.

The council has now revealed that B.U.S Premier LTD, which runs Randell’s Food and Wine at 71-73 Southchurch Road, Southend, has been fined almost £6,000.

The business pleaded guilty to breaches of the Food Safety and Hygiene (England) Regulations 2013.

These breaches took place between March 8, 2023, and June 7, 2023.

Ian Gilbert, councillor responsible for regeneration, major projects, and regulatory services, said: “’Use by' dates are placed on highly perishable foods by manufacturers to protect consumer health.

"After this date, these foods constitute an immediate danger to human health from a microbiological standpoint.

"Food businesses must ensure robust procedures are in place to check ‘use by’ dates to prevent unsafe food from reaching consumers.

“Our Environmental Health Officers consistently visit food businesses to ensure compliance with food safety requirements.

"This successful prosecution serves as a clear warning that Southend Council will not hesitate to take action where public health is at risk.”

During visits between March 2023, and June 2023, environmental health officers discovered a total of 39 out-of-date food items with expired ‘use by’ dates over a five-month period, despite repeated warnings.

This included items such as milk, pate, houmous, and chicken. 

At a visit on March 8, 2023, officers discovered 21 out-of-date pre-packed high-risk ready-to-eat food items on display for sale.

Some of the items were more than two weeks past their 'use by' date.

A follow-up visit in June revealed another 18 expired items, with some up to 18 days past their 'use-by' dates.

The business also failed to implement proper food safety procedures regarding stock control, including removing food items with expired ‘use by’ dates from sale.

The court ordered B.U.S Premier LTD and the Company Director, Balasubramaniya Sivasaravanan, to pay £2,739.30 in fines.

Additionally, they must cover the council's awarded costs of £1,971.20 and a victim surcharge of £1,095.

This total amount of £5,805.50 must be paid within six months.