A BUSINESS which sold out-of-date food and ‘risked the public’s safety’ with incorrect packaging has been slapped with a hefty fine having been taken to court following a year-long Barnsley Council investigation, the Chronicle can reveal.

Premier, on Birk Avenue, was caught selling multiple products to the public and did not heed the warnings of an improvement notice issued by the local authority’s inspectors before a further check was carried out.

Its owner - West London-based VVS Trading Limited - admitted a total of 13 separate charges relating to products still being offered for sale despite being past their sell-by dates.

They were handed a bill of £8,951.26 at Barnsley Magistrates’ Court last week, which included court costs of £950 and a £2,000 victim surcharge.

As well as items such as expired tuna, sausages, chicken, ham and eggs being sold, packaging on certain items also fell foul of regulations due to them not containing addresses as to where they were made.

Christina Heeley, service manager for Trading Standards, told the Chronicle: “The missing addresses are an extremely important aspect of this case - if someone has an issue, or an allergic reaction having consumed the product, there’s no comeback because they do not know where it came from.

“But the items which were past their sell-by dates make up the majority of this conviction and it was food which could have caused serious illness.

“Officers visited the business last May as part of a routine spot-check and issued what’s basically a put-right notice.

“When they returned, it was found that improvements had not been made which is why court proceedings - always done as a last resort - were pursued.

“The business, having been convicted, will be subject to more scrutiny in the future due to what was found, but it’s important to add that we always want to work with shops in order to improve safety and solve any issues before action is taken.

“Everything we do is about safety.”

It’s the latest success story for the council’s Trading Standards officers, who last year took action on the owners of Darfield Super Store and Wombwell’s Last Orders Food and Wine.

Coun Wendy Cain, cabinet spokesperson for public health and communities, added: “In Barnsley we’re committed to keeping our communities safe, working hard to make sure residents can feel confident the products they are buying meet legal standards.

“We work closely with traders to make this possible, providing information to help them understand their responsibilities and issuing warnings where they can correct errors.

“Prosecutions highlight how we take our responsibility to protect our communities seriously, taking action to stop potentially dangerous products from remaining on our shelves.

“Barnsley’s Trading Standards team are here to help you understand your food safety responsibilities as a business.

“If you own a food business and have concerns, we want to encourage you to call the team on 01226 773743 for advice and support.”