A poultry business has received a £50,000 fine for falsifying Salmonella testing certificates.
The Radstock-based farmer, Stuart Perkins of SG Perkins Ltd, pled guilty to a number of offences under the Food Safety and Hygiene (England) Regulations 2013 and the Animal Health Act 1981, at Bath Magistrates Court on Wednesday 3rd July.
According to the Food Standards Agency (FSA), the 38-year-old was sentenced to a fine of £5,000 for each FSA offence, £3,500 for each local authority offence, costs amounting to £21,810.75, plus a victim surcharge of £2,000. The total fine reached £50,830.75.
The FSA, working with partners including Avon and Somerset police, Environmental Health and Trading Standards, executed a search warrant at the poultry farm and abattoir in November 2023, finding evidence that Perkins had falsified Salmonella testing certificates. They also found evidence of traceability concerns.
Fakir Mohamed Osman, head of the Heart of the South West Trading Standards Service, said: “We take breaches of this kind very seriously. The prevention of salmonella programme is there for a reason, to safeguard the public. Producers suspected of not carrying out the required testing will be investigated.
“The defendant’s actions presented a real risk to public health, and I am pleased that, thanks to our collaborative efforts with the Food Standards Agency, we were able to take action.”
“This should act as a deterrent to anyone considering taking dangerous shortcuts and breaching food safety and hygiene law.”
Andrew Quinn, head of NSA’s NFCU.
Andrew Quinn, head of the FSA’s National Food Crime Unit (NFCU), said: “We welcome this substantial fine as it shows the serious nature of faking documents and jeopardising food safety. This should act as a deterrent to anyone considering taking dangerous shortcuts and breaching food safety and hygiene law. I want to thank Heart of the South West Trading Standards for their excellent work in securing this result, as well as Avon and Somerset Police for their assistance.
“Together, we are stronger in the fight against food crime, and we continue to work with partners to ensure food is safe and help ensure that consumers are protected.”
The National Food Crime Unit has issued an alert to industry asking food businesses to check the traceability of their suppliers to help ensure legitimate businesses “maintain the integrity and safety of their food chains and protect their customers”.
