Asda Hit with £657k Fine After Selling Expired Meat, Dairy and Other Items in Wales

Supermarket giant Asda has been fined £657,115 following a prosecution for selling expired food products at two of its stores in Cardiff, Wales.

The guilty plea was entered at Cardiff Magistrates' Court following complaints by consumers, and the investigation was conducted by Shared Regulatory Services (SRS), a joint environmental health and trading standards service for Cardiff and the Vale of Glamorgan.

Over 100 Expired Items Found During Inspections

Between January and June 2024, environmental health officers from SRS conducted six separate inspections at Asda's Capital Retail Park and Pentwyn Superstore branches.

These visits uncovered more than 100 food items sold beyond their use-by dates, with some products found to be up to seven days past their expiry date.

The majority of the affected items were highly perishable goods, including meat and dairy products, known to pose significant health risks if consumed after their use-by date.

According to reports, many of these expired items were ready-to-eat foods, and some were marketed towards children, heightening concerns about the potential health implications for vulnerable consumers. The sale of such products is a serious breach of food safety laws, which are designed to protect public health.

Court's Strong Words on Food Safety Breaches

District Judge Charlotte Murphy presided over the case and highlighted the gravity of the offences, noting that the violations occurred over an extended period and involved a substantial quantity of products. She was critical of Asda's failure to implement adequate measures to prevent the recurrence of these breaches despite earlier warnings.

The court imposed a fine of £640,000 on Asda Stores Ltd, in addition to ordering the company to pay £15,115 in prosecution costs and a £2,000 victim surcharge. The verdict sends a clear message to retailers about the non-negotiable importance of maintaining food safety standards.

Regulatory Authorities Urge Vigilance

Councillor Norma Mackie, Cabinet Member for Shared Regulatory Services at Cardiff Council, underlined the necessity of consumer confidence in the safety of food sold in supermarkets. She stated: 'Consumers should be confident that the food on sale at stores is safe to eat. Robust systems must be in place to prevent the sale of food past its use-by date.'

The case has highlighted the importance of implementing rigorous stock management and monitoring systems within retail outlets to prevent expired products from reaching consumers. It also highlights the role of regulatory bodies in enforcing food safety legislation and protecting public health.

Understanding Food Safety Laws and Use-By Dates

Under the General Food Regulations 2004 and subsequent legislation, selling food that is unsafe for consumption is a criminal offence. Use-by dates are mandatory for highly perishable foods that are likely to spoil quickly, such as dairy products, meat, and ready-to-eat meals. These dates indicate the last day the product is considered safe to eat.

Retailers are legally required to remove products from sale once they reach their use-by date to prevent consumers from consuming potentially harmful food. Failure to comply exposes businesses to legal action and damages consumer trust.

Asda's Previous Food Safety Failings Raise Questions

This latest fine follows a pattern of food safety issues for Asda. Earlier in April 2025, the supermarket was fined £410,000 over similar breaches in Cornwall, where expired food products, including items targeted at children, were sold at two stores.

The recurrence of such offences raises concerns about the effectiveness of Asda's internal controls and processes for managing perishable stock. Industry experts argue that retailers must invest in stronger monitoring technologies and staff training to prevent these violations and ensure consumer safety.

Public Health and Consumer Trust at Stake

Food safety experts warn that consuming food past its use-by date, especially meat and dairy products, can result in food poisoning, causing symptoms ranging from mild gastrointestinal upset to severe illness, particularly in vulnerable groups such as children, the elderly, and immunocompromised individuals.

Maintaining high standards in food retail is crucial not only for public health but also for preserving consumer confidence in the supermarket sector. Incidents like this can undermine trust and cause lasting reputational damage.

Moving Forward: Lessons for the Retail Sector

Asda's fine serves as a stark reminder of the legal and ethical responsibilities retailers carry in safeguarding the food supply chain. Regulatory authorities are expected to continue rigorous inspections and take firm action against businesses failing to meet statutory requirements.

Consumers are also advised to remain vigilant, checking use-by dates carefully and reporting any concerns to local authorities to help prevent similar incidents.