Unsafe-food dairy landed with £9,000 bill

Thomas Edward Wallis and Patricia Wallis – co-directors of Lowna Dairy in Raywell, East Yorkshire, – each pleaded guilty at Hull Crown Court to three counts of failing to comply with regulations at the premises.

Fines and costs of 9,163 were imposed by the court. Total fines of 1,950 were split equally between the two directors and the company with each paying 650.

East Riding of Yorkshire Council decided not to pursue eight further charges because of improvements at the dairy although these will remain on file. The convictions related to breaches of regulations covering food safety and processes to ensure the production of safe food between April 2009 and May this year.

Wrapping and packaging material was stored in an area above the dairy which was exposed to contamination from outside and Mrs Wallis worked on the food process without training on food safety.

The council said the business did not have the appropriate controls and monitoring in place to ensure safe food.