During a routine inspection at a CK Foodstores shop in Narberth on 24 July 2024, environmental health officers from the Pembrokeshire County Council’s food safety and standards team identified multiple examples of non-compliance with allergen labelling requirements.
Three products, chosen at random for allergen compliance checks, were found to be incorrectly labelled and failed to appropriately declare all allergens in accordance with regulations.
Labelling concerns had previously been raised at both store level and at the head office of CK Foodstores, but this did not lead to compliance with requirements. Due to the serious potential consequence of inaccurate allergen labelling, formal action was taken by the council.
All packaged foods must clearly list all ingredients in descending weight order, with allergens emphasised using bold, underlined or capitalised text to ensure visibility and consumer safety.
This ensures that the 6% of the UK adult population suffering with food allergies and those with food sensitivities can make informed and safe food choices.
CK Foodstores head office was responsible for producing the labels for instore bakery items, which meant that the issue affected multiple locations.
Upon discovery at the Narberth store, environmental health officers immediately contacted the company’s senior management, and the affected products were removed from sale.
The case was heard in Haverfordwest Magistrates Court on 30 September 2025.
Following early guilty pleas the Company was fined £12,000 for each of the three offences and ordered to pay £2,000 victim surcharge. Costs totalling £2,849.95 were also awarded to Pembrokeshire County Council.
Cllr Jacob Williams, cabinet member for regulatory services, said: “Food allergen labelling is a legal requirement to protect consumers, especially those with serious allergies, for whom even small quantities of a particular ingredient can be lethal.
“We welcome the company’s early guilty pleas and the court’s sentence, and hope the level of fines imposed remind all food businesses how important it is to ensure labelling is accurate and legally compliant.”
