Lapse in food safety standards results in hefty fine for shopkeeper

A Family Choice store owner in Chacewater near Truro in Cornwall has been prosecuted for poor food hygiene standards.

Last Thursday (August 25th) saw local magistrates fine 62-year-old David Gilbert for three offences. One, relating to stock control, had in fact been raised with the shopkeeper three times since 1995.

Mr Gilbert was given an 18-month conditional discharge as well as an order to pay the local council's costs of £629, a sentence reflecting the "seriousness of this case", according to Allan Hampshire, Cornwall Council's head of public health and protection.

Mr Hampshire added: "If [businesses] do not take the appropriate steps to protect the safety of their customers and ignore our advice, we will not hesitate to take formal action."

A recent judgement from the High Court along with a judicial review means many food businesses will be forced to reapply for licenses to operate as eateries. The Food Standards Authority has revealed that it is advising people who may be affected - particularly businesses that have changed hands between January 2006 and now.