TESCO has been fined for selling food past its use by date at three supermarkets, including Axminster.

TESCO has been fined for selling food past its use by date at three supermarkets, including Axminster.The supermarket was fined �14,600 and ordered to pay legal costs of an additional �16,500 to Devon County Council.The hearing at Central Devon and Exeter Magistrates' Court heard that Tesco supermarkets in Axminster, Tiverton and Exmouth had been caught selling food past its use by date.Trading Standards Officers discovered further offences following two complaints from Tesco customers. Visits were made to stores across Devon in 2007 and 2008 and a total of 54 items were found to be on sale past their use by date.Tesco Stores Ltd pleaded guilty to seven offences of selling food past its use by dates.Ken Endacott, operations manager for the Devon Trading Standards Service, said: "This case was brought because our investigations showed that the Tesco's systems to prevent sales of perishable foods after their use by dates failed on a number of occasions."We would hope that after today's hearing Tesco will review their systems to prevent this happening again."Consumers need to be aware that food past its use by dates can deteriorate in quality and consumption may be a health risk. "Customers need to check the date codes on foods before they buy them and before using them at home.