Food warning follows prosecution

Trading standards officers are warning of the effects of out-of-date food on vulnerable people.

Torfaen council's comments follow its prosecution of the owners of the Regency House private nursing home at Parkes Lane, Pontypool.

Torfaen health inspectors found food intended for residents' meals that was past its "use by" date.

The company admitted six offences and was fined £12,000 by Abergavenny magistrates on Tuesday.

The council's head of trading standards, Steve Whitehouse, said: "This authority takes very seriously the supply/sale of food past its 'use by' date and the effect this can have particularly on the most vulnerable in our society."

He added: "The service has taken a number of prosecutions over the last two years and would reiterate the importance to businesses that they understand their legal obligations.

"Trading standards is only too willing to provide such advice and guidance to businesses to ensure that infringements are kept to a minimum."

During a routine inspection at the nursing home in November last year, the council found a number of items of food on the premises that were past their "use by" date, including New Zealand lamb.

Health inspectors said they found one ingredient at the residential home that was almost six months past the date.

The company admitted six offences relating to food standard offences.