Morrisons supermarket fined £750k for dirty bakery

Morrisons faces a hefty penalty of £737,000, plus costs, after its Cwmbran branch bakery was found to have serious and systemic hygiene failures. The supermarket giant was prosecuted by Torfaen Council environmental health officers following a routine inspection in August 2024, which uncovered multiple violations that put customers' health at risk.

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We were very disappointed in the condition of the bakery in August 2024. It fell far short of the standard our customers expect and that we should provide. This was a single local issue which was dealt with immediately by working closely with the council. The improvement made has been consistently maintained.

During the inspection, officers discovered 51 flaws in the store's food safety management systems. These issues included poor cleanliness, dirty equipment, inadequate staff supervision, and a lack of proper food safety protocols. Worryingly, these problems had been known to store bosses for over a month before the inspection, highlighting a significant lapse in oversight and a disregard for basic food safety standards.

At Newport Magistrates' Court, Judge Sophie Toms emphasized that the case was not about isolated incidents but about "serious and systemic failures" within Morrisons' operations. The judge's stern words underscored the gravity of the situation, stating that the supermarket had risked the health and safety of its customers, potentially even putting lives in danger.

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The council will not hesitate to take formal action where the health and well-being of consumers is placed at risk.

In response, Morrisons expressed disappointment with the condition of the bakery, acknowledging that it fell short of expected standards. The company stated that the issue was localized and has since been rectified through close collaboration with the council. However, the substantial fine serves as a stark reminder of the importance of maintaining rigorous hygiene standards in the food industry and the severe consequences of failing to do so. Torfaen Council reiterated its commitment to taking formal action against businesses that compromise consumer health and well-being.

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Morrisons had risked customers' health and safety and perhaps put lives at risk.