A SHOP OWNER from Blaenavon has pleaded guilty to 16 counts of selling out of date food and has received a total fine of £5,630.20.

Mrs Harsha Tank, of Market Street, Blaenavon appeared at Cwmbran Magistrates on Monday after a visit from Trading Standards in March this year.

Mrs Tank is the owner of the convenience store HM Stores and was found to be selling edible products some of which were 16 days past their use by date.

Her charge included the failure to follow safety procedures after Trading Standards found the ‘Safer Food Better Business’ records were not up to date.

Mrs Tank received one fine of £400 along with a £40 victim surcharge and £690.20 in costs to Torfaen Council, in addition to 15 separate fines of £300.

Nilesh Tank, of the same address, faced 16 counts of the same charges but the case against him was withdrawn.

Torfaen Council have released the following statement on the news of Mrs Tank’s fine for selling food past its use by date.

"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,” said cllr Gwyneira Clark, executive member for housing, planning and public protection.

“Businesses must ensure that their systems are robust and that they take reasonable measures to ensure that these instances do not arise.

Torfaen County Borough Council will work with businesses and give advice to consumers to ensure that the instances of harm to the public in Torfaen are prevented,” she added.