A Dorset based fresh produce retailer has been fined £2,000 after displaying and selling fresh produce, including Spanish lemons and Asian cucumbers, unfit for human consumption.
Pak Kunda Limited, which has shops located in Charminster and Poole trading under the name of Makkah Food Stores, pleaded guilty to five separate charges under the Marketing of Fresh Horticultural Produce Regulations on 5 February at Bournemouth Magistrates’ Court.
DEFRA and the Rural Payments Agency brought the prosecution against Pak Kunda for displaying and selling produce which failed to comply with the European Union's marketing standards for quality and labelling.
The five regulated products, each found on display at the Charminster store with quality and labelling defects back in June 2012, were: Spanish lemons, Asian cucumbers, Spanish loquats, peaches of unknown origin, and cauliflower from the UK.
Pak Kunda was fined £400 for each product while full prosecution and investigation costs of £2,245 were also imposed, giving a total liability of £4,245 plus the victims’ surcharge of £15.
An RPA spokesperson said: 'The prosecution followed a series of risk-based enforcement visits and inspections, carried out by the Rural Payments Agency’s Horticultural Marketing Inspectorate (HMI), over an 18-month period between January 2011 and June 2012.
'Concerted efforts were made by the HMI to work closely with the firm’s proprietor and staff with face-to-face meetings, verbal warnings and formal written notices, all aimed at achieving improved compliance from the company.'