S4C’s program, Y Byd ar Bedwar, uncovered nearly 50 items that were being sold or displayed out of date at various stores. This alarming discovery prompted CK Foodstores, which operates over 30 stores in south and west Wales, to express its commitment to “monitor and improve on its policies.”
Although CK Foodstores has a partnership with Nisa Local and some stores even display the Nisa logo, it is important to note that CK Foodstores independently owns and operates these stores. There is no indication that Nisa Local has been involved in selling out-of-date food.
During the extensive investigation that spanned nearly a year, almost half of the 24 stores visited were found to be selling products past their use-by date. Disturbing examples included a piece of gammon that was 13 days out of date at a CK’s store in Penclawdd, Swansea, chicken drumsticks that were two days past their use-by date at the St Clears store in Carmarthenshire, and a bag of gammon misshapes that were sold 10 days beyond their use-by date at the Narberth store in Pembrokeshire.
Additionally, meat past its use-by date was discovered in stores located in Birchgrove, Brynhyfryd, Burry Port, Cimla, Llandysul, St David’s, and Waunarlwydd.
It is noteworthy that CK Foodstores faced legal consequences in 2020, where it was ordered to pay nearly £30,000 for selling out-of-date food and displaying unsafe food in two of its Swansea stores.
Nathan Barnhouse, director of the Food Standards Agency (FSA), emphasized the importance of use-by dates and its correlation to safety in an interview for the program. He stated, “A use-by date is about safety. It may smell and look OK, but you won’t necessarily see the bacteria that could potentially make you ill. This could be particularly dangerous for vulnerable individuals, such as the elderly, young, or those with underlying health conditions. Just because you may have consumed food past its use-by date in the past and been unaffected, it doesn’t mean you will be so fortunate in the future.”
This investigation serves as a wake-up call for CK Foodstores to prioritize the proper handling and sale of products within their stores. The pledge to “monitor and improve on its policies” is a step in the right direction to ensure the health and safety of their customers.