Tesco plead guilty to food contamination charge

Customers eating their breakfast in the café at Tesco’s Belmont store were left grasping their throats and dashing to the nearest toilet to vomit.

Today, Tuesday, July 18, at Hereford Magistrates Court, Tesco Stores Limited pleaded guilty to selling contaminated food to customers in the café of their Belmont, Hereford store.

Tesco Stores Limited was prosecuted under Section 14 of the Food Safety Act 1990. The company was ordered to pay a fine of £10,000 and £15,000 costs to Herefordshire Council.

On October 6, 2004 customers were eating their breakfast when some of them noticed an unusual taste in their baked beans.

The beans started to make their mouths and throats burn. Some of them started to feel sick and vomited.

At least seven customers were affected by the contaminated beans. Six customers and two members of staff needed treatment at accident and emergency at Hereford hospital.

A portion of the beans was analysed by the public analyst at Worcestershire Scientific Services.

The test proved positive for the presence of a Cationic Detergent of the Quaternary Ammonium type, a type of detergent.

This detergent was found to be in regular use in the café. The public analyst confirmed that the detergent was not detected in the empty, unwashed baked bean cans retrieved from the coffee shop.

Environmental Health Officers investigated the complaint and found problems with the handling and dilution of cleaning chemicals used in the café.

Andy Tector, Herefordshire Council’s Head of Environmental Health and Trading Standards, said: “Today represents the end of a long and sometimes complicated investigation. 

“We were pleased that Tesco decided to enter a guilty plea and are satisfied with the decision of the Court. 

“It is unfortunate that we had cause to bring this prosecution but, when it comes to the protection of the public, it is our duty to investigate and where necessary bring the matter before the Court," he added.