A New Spitalfields wholesaler has been fined for offering rotten Spanish tomatoes for sale.
Raj Kulen, stand manager at Fruit 4 U, was fined £500 with prosecution and investigation costs of £350 also awarded, plus the victims’ surcharge of £15.
He pleaded guilty to the single breach of the EU marketing standards for fresh horticultural produce on 29 September at Thames Magistrates’ Court, Bow, East London for offering 49 boxes of Spanish tomatoes for sale that did not meet the minimum marketable standards for human consumption.
The fruit was inspected by the Rural Payments Agency’s Horticultural Marketing Inspectorate at New Spitalfields in February this year and 53 per cent of the consignment was affected by visible rots and mould deposits, with a further four per cent showing serious skin defects.
Paul Caldwell, RPA operations director, said: “The RPA’s Horticultural Marketing Inspectors pursue criminal prosecution as a last resort when all other attempts to gain the compliance of traders have failed. It’s important for consumers to know they are buying good-quality fresh produce and we won’t hesitate in taking all necessary steps to ensure that they do.”
