Asda Fined £657,115 for Selling Out-of-Date Food at Two Cardiff Stores

Asda has been fined over £655,000 after pleading guilty to selling more than 100 out-of-date food items across two Cardiff stores, located in Leckwith Road and Pentwyn. Inspections between January and June 2024 revealed that some items, including high-risk products like meat and dairy, were up to seven days past their use-by dates, with many marketed as ready-to-eat, raising significant food safety concerns. Customer complaints triggered multiple visits by Shared Regulatory Services, which confirmed the breaches and led to Asda admitting four charges of selling unsafe food. Despite having existing food safety systems, the court ruled these were inadequate and not sufficiently followed; since then, Asda has introduced a new monitoring system costing £1 million in consultation and over £600,000 in staff training, with no further issues reported. Cardiff Council officials emphasized the importance of consumer confidence in food safety and expressed hope that Asda's new measures will prevent future violations. The fine, imposed by Cardiff Magistrates Court, was £160,000 per offence plus court charges, totaling £657,115, payable within 28 days.