A Bristol based fresh produce retailer has been fined over £3,500 after pleading guilty to ten separate offences including selling fruit and vegetables unfit for human consumption.
Mr Basharat Mahmood, a partner in the Al Noor Supermarket, pleaded guilty to ten breaches of EU marketing standards for quality and labelling on 28 February at Bristol Magistrates' Court.
The subsequent investigation by the Rural Payments Agency found offending Galia melons, Iceberg lettuce, Khaki Sharon fruit, celery, limes, apples, onions, pears, sweet peppers and asparagus. All the above produce were either rotting, discoloured, covered in foreign matter, bruised or displayed without the country of origin labelled.
'The RPA’s Horticultural Marketing Inspectors pursue criminal prosecution only as a last resort,' said Paul Caldwell, RPA's operations director.
'It’s important that consumers should be confident they are buying good quality fresh produce and we are committed to taking the necessary steps to ensure that traders provide what they promise.
As a result of the breaches, the Al Noor Supermarket was fined £2,800 for the first quality offence with no fines issued for the other nine offences to which guilty pleas had been entered. The prosecution was also awarded costs of £745 giving a total liability of £3,545. A further £120 Victim’s Surcharge was also imposed.
A court spokesperson said: 'This is a matter of food safety and the seriousness of the offences was reflected in the level of fine awarded.'
