A WINCHESTER supermarket has been prosecuted after potentially gone-off food was found on sale last year.

Arudchelvi Nimalarajan, of Oliver’s Supermarket Ltd on Oliver’s Battery Road South, was taken to court by Winchester City Council after food past the use-by date was found on sale in June 2013.

An inspector discovered four pre-packed sandwiches and baguettes on sale which were past the use-by date and subsequently removed from the shelves.

Mrs Nimalarajan was prosecuted for exposing for sale food past the use-by date in a case heard at Basingstoke Magistrates’ Court.

The offences committed in June 2013 were the latest in a line of incidents where high-risk products were exposed for sale to consumers. Between the months of June 2010 and June 2011, on five occasions, 22 high-risk products were found on sale including sour cream, natural yogurt, pasties and sandwiches. On one occasion chicken bites were found on sale 17 days past the use-by date.

In August 2011 the council issued Mrs Nimalarajan a Simple Caution which led to grounds for prosecution.

Mrs Nimalarajan pleaded guilty to all four offences by notice and therefore chose not to attend court.

At the hearing magistrates heard how exposing foods for sale which are past the use-by date poses a risk to consumers due to their highly perishable nature.

After examining the evidence, the magistrates ordered a fine of £500 per offence reduced to £360 due to the admission of guilt, a £36 victim surcharge and costs of £1,053.84.