Asda fined over US$500,000 for selling out-of-date food

UK – Asda, a British supermarket and petrol station chain, has been fined £410,000 (US$545,833) after two of its Cornwall stores were caught selling out-of-date food.

Asda Stores Ltd pleaded guilty at Plymouth Magistrates’ Court on 23 April 2025 to two charges of offering unsafe food for sale, under regulation 19 of the Food Safety and Hygiene (England) Regulations 2013.

The company was ordered to pay a fine of £410,000 (US$545,833), prosecution costs of £20,582.70 (US$27,401.75), and a victim surcharge of £2,000 (US$2662).

The case was brought by Cornwall Council’s Trading Standards team, following multiple consumer complaints and a wider investigation into food safety practices at supermarkets across the county.

One of the investigations by Cornwall Council’s Trading Standards Team found 58 out-of-date food items on the shelves of Asda’s Penryn store on 30 October 2023. 

They revealed that many of the items were ready-to-eat foods, including children’s yoghurts, which were nearly four weeks past the use-by date.

Two days later, on 1 November 2023, four more items past their use-by date were found on shelves at Asda’s Hayle branch.

“Use-by dates are applied to highly perishable foods that could pose a serious health risk if consumed after this date, and Food Standards Agency guidance states they should not be eaten,” Cornwall Council said.

In the ruling, the judge in charge, Judge Matson, said that despite the systems Asda had in place to prevent this kind of breach, they were not followed. She also noted that the steps taken after concerns were raised were not sufficient.

Asda acknowledged that the high safety and quality standards it has in place were not followed in these instances. 

The company further emphasised that the case involves just two of the 1,000 stores it operates across the UK, adding that the incidents occurred over two years ago and that its date code checking process has since been updated.

“The safety of our customers is always our top priority, and we regret that out-of-date products were found on sale at two of our Cornwall stores during October and November 2023. Since these instances, we have implemented a new date code checking process in all stores, ensuring that every short-life product is checked daily,” an Asda spokesperson commented.

The Cornwall Council has also assured its commitment to ensuring that the food sold to consumers is safe, and expressed disappointment at the potential danger the items posed to the public. 

“Consumers should be confident that the food they buy is safe to eat. We hope that the steps Asda Stores Ltd have now put in place will prevent the sale of out-of-date food in future.” Jane Tomlinson, Trading Standards Group Leader at Cornwall Council, said.

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