Firms warned over food fraud

Firms warned over food fraud

Under-strength whisky and lollipops with too much colouring are among the offences listed in a report on food standards in the East Midlands.

Food businesses in the East Midlands have been fined more than £120,000 in the last 12 months, according to Leicestershire County Council.

One case found that some lollipops in Northamptonshire contained more than eight times the permitted level of colouring.

In other cases, meat was discovered in cheese and onion pasties.

Consumers are entitled to expect that the food they buy is safe

Leicestershire County Council

In Lincolnshire, there were 10 cases of chicken with undisclosed levels of added water.

Inspectors discovered beef steaklets containing mechanically recovered chicken in Derbyshire.

They also found various food products on sale past their "use-by" date in Leicestershire.

Shopkeepers were fined for selling two brands of under-strength whisky in Nottinghamshire.

Legal action

A spokesperson for Leicestershire County Council said: "Consumers are entitled to expect that the food they buy is safe and the ingredients are as described on the product's label.

"We are pleased to see that the courts also take a strong view on these issues.

"Our priority will be to work with businesses, provide advice and encourage compliance with food trading laws.

"However, if our advice is ignored or there is a deliberate disregard of the law then, ultimately, we are prepared to take legal action."