Slaughterhouse prosecuted over major food safety failings

A POULTRY company based in Barnsley has been prosecuted and fined £22,000 for major food safety offences.

Al-Ummah Halal Poultry Limited, formerly Primedale, pleaded guilty before Barnsley Magistrates Court.

The company operates a poultry slaughterhouse in the town, and pleaded guilty to eleven offences including a failure to remove viscera from poultry carcases after slaughter, allowing the spillage of digestive tract contents.

It also failed to comply with a Remedial Action Notice regarding poor evisceration.

The company was found not guilty in relation to six other matters.

Heather Hancock, the FSA chairperson, said: “We welcome the outcome of this prosecution and thank everyone involved in bringing the company to justice. This case brought to light a woeful failure by the company to protect public health and food safety. Thankfully, no serious incident was caused as a result of their actions.

“We are serious about prosecuting businesses that fail to uphold acceptable standards of food safety. This sentence sends a clear message to all food producers: having an effective food safety management system to avoid contamination is paramount.”