A SHOP’S current director and his predecessor have been fined more than £15,000 and disqualified from running a company for two years after being prosecuted for selling unsafe food and illegal tobacco products.
Gootiar Abdullah Mahmoodi, current director of BU Dearne Mini Market, based on St Andrew’s Square, Bolton-upon-Dearne, and former director Boton Ismaeel Mahmood appeared at Barnsley Magistrates’ Court.
The company and Mahmood pleaded guilty to several offences relating to the sale of unlawful goods.
The court was told how officers from the council’s regulatory services team had visited the business in June 2024 and served two improvement notices.
These required the business to clearly display the name and address of the food business operator on all pre-packed food and provide mandatory food information in English on product labels, including allergen information.
When officers returned for a follow-up inspection in August, they found the business had failed to comply with the notices.
Non-compliant products were still on sale, including products which were unsafe due to allergenic ingredients not being indicated in English, as well as non-duty paid cigarettes and tobacco that did not carry the required combined health warnings in English.
The company had also failed to notify the relevant authorities of its food business operations, as required by law.
B U Dearne Mini Market was ordered to pay a fine and costs totalling £10,350.72 while Mahmoodi, who appeared on behalf of the company, was also disqualified from being a company director for two years.
Former director Mahmood was fined and ordered to pay costs totalling £5,477.72, and was also disqualified from being a company director for two years.
The court also ordered that the seized illegal products be forfeited.
Councillor Wendy Cain, cabinet spokesperson for public health and communities, said: “Businesses have a legal duty to make sure the food products they sell are safe and meet labelling requirements and that any tobacco products they sell are compliant with UK laws.
“Failing to do so puts the public at risk and undermines legitimate traders.
“Our officers do great work to support businesses to operate legally.
“In this case, the business was given the opportunity to comply with the law and decided not to take it, leading to us taking further action.
“We’re proud of the hard work of our regulatory services and legal teams in securing this result, which sends a clear message that we won’t tolerate unsafe or illegal products being sold in Barnsley.
“If you have any questions or need any advice in relation to food labelling, or you see anything suspicious or suspect a business or person might be trading illegally, contact the team by emailing regulatoryservices@barnsley.gov.uk or calling 01226 773743.”
