A tonne of decaying chicken found at food factory
The council’s food safety team discovered the chicken during a routine inspection of the business on May 1.
The meat had been bought by the firm for processing but was rejected when its true age was discovered.
The firm was then in dispute with the Brazilian company they bought it from over who was responsible for its disposal.
Environmental Health Officers (EHO) from the council ordered the chicken be detained at the factory after finding it in a cold store.
Defrosted two-weeks prior
It was found to have been defrosted more than two-weeks prior to EHO officers’ discovery.
Cooked chicken has a shelf-life of just three days once defrosted.
An application to have it condemned and taken out of the food chain was then made to the courts.
The application was accepted after senior EHO Des Hillier presented evidence of the find to Northampton Magistrates’ Court on May 26. The chicken will now be properly disposed of.
Councillor Mike Warren, health and housing porfolio holder at Daventry District Council, said: “This council’s food safety officers carry out regular checks on all food premises to ensure the public is protected and that high standards are maintained.
“It is important that food which is unfit to eat is removed from the food chain and I am pleased our food safety officers have utilised their powers to achieve this.”
Earlier this year, the Border Force foiled a plan to import 90kg of the class A drug MDMA in out-of-date frozen chicken.
Food safety conference
Meanwhile, the Food Manufacture Group will be holding a one-day food safety conference on September 29 at the Lowry in Manchester.
‘Safer food and drink – from harvest to home’ will investigate ways to ensure food safety from the farm, through manufacture and the supply chain, to products and packaging on sale.
It will also discuss what more the industry can do to reassure consumers about the safety and authenticity of the food they eat.
For more information – including how to book – click here.
