Bradford local shop fined for selling out-of-date food

A corner shop owner in Bradford has been fined after trying to sell customers out-of-date food, including a sausage found to be 155 days past its use-by date, after the shopkeeper  pleaded guilty to a number of food hygiene charges at a Magistrates’ Court.

According to local reports, Local Mini Market’s former shopkeeper Karim Mohammed Omer Jaff, 36, pleaded guilty to a number of food hygiene charges at Magistrates’ Court.

Trading Standards discovered the products while carrying out a routine inspection of the shop on Thornton Lane on 7 October, 2021. He was also found stocking beef 35 days past its expiry date and garlic sauce 49 days late, posing a “significant risk” to the public.

Jaf was charged with four counts of failing to comply with EU laws over food safety and hygiene. He was fined £207, ordered to pay a contribution towards the costs of bringing the case of £640 and a £34 surcharge.

Harjit Ryatt, prosecuting, branded the items potentially harmful to human health.

“During their visit, Trading Standards officers found a number of products that had been displayed for sale that were beyond their use-by date. Use-by dates are very important, especially with products deemed to be highly perishable. Products sold after that date are deemed to be potentially harmful to human health,” Ryatt said.

“Legislation on this issue is very strict – any food for sale past its use-by date can lead to enforcement.”

Mo Hussain, defending, said it was common for people to debate whether out-of-date food was suitable to eat.

He added: “We had a discussion in my house recently about how long after the use-by date was fine for us to eat a tin of beans.

“The problem is that some products sold outside the use-by date can be more dangerous than others.”

Addressing Jaf, chair of the bench Alison Roberts, said: “We understand this was a very difficult time for you, but at the end of the day the risk to the public by these products being out of date is significant, particularly the meat products. One sausage was 155 days out of date – that is a very long period of time.”

Bradford Council prosecuted the case on behalf of Trading Standards. It was the second time in the past 12 months that Jaf has appeared before the court.

In July, he appeared at Bradford Crown Court after Trading Standards found a stash of counterfeit cigarettes worth £28,000 at his store in January 2021.