NRI supermarket fined $45,000 over meatballs
using sodium nitrite for
flavouring, resulting in more than 300 times
Auckland, Aug 9, 2006
Ramesh B. Verma
NRI director and operator, Amit Prakash of Otara
supermarket Food World, U & S Chand Investments Limited
in south Auckland was sentenced today in the Manukau District
Court on charges under Section 11AA of the Food Act, fined
$45,000 after high doses of preservatives were found in meatball
samples sold in the outlet, thereby endangering the life of
a customer.
The meatballs contained the preservative sodium
nitrite for flavouring, resulting in more than 300 times the
recommended safe level for food.
New Zealand Food Safety Authority (NZFSA) and its partners
in protecting public health take breeches of standards and
legislation seriously and will take the appropriate action
when these are brought to our notice. This case and the fine
imposed demonstrate this.
New Zealand has an Excellent reputation for safe food and
such incidents are not common, the sentence sends a clear
message. All involved in the production, preparation and sale
of food are responsible for ensuring the safety and suitability
of the food they provide and serve. All food operators should
know the relevant sections of the Food Standards Code, Food
Hygiene Regulations, local authority by-laws and other applicable
legislation. This responsibility is paramount and failures
to comply, as this case illustrates, can cause severe health
issues.Geoff Allen says that consumers can be confident in
the safety of food sold in New Zealand, but that if that have
concerns or suspicions they should contact their local council
or Public Health Unit.
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