A Barking business has been found guilty in court for failing to comply with food hygiene legislation.

On 27 May 2021 Dancle Distribution Ltd of Thames Road Barking, was issued with a Detention of Food Notice by council enforcement officers after they discovered the business was selling imported meat without the correct health mark.

The lack of a health mark on a product indicates that the products were manufactured without approval, hence, the production and hygiene procedures at the premises are unknown.

The Director of the business, Mr Clementin Coca, ignored the notice and was ultimately summoned to court.

The case took place at Barking Magistrates Court on Tuesday 27 September where Mr Coca pleaded guilty to breaching a Food Safety Act notice which required the imported meat to be detained pending further investigation.

Councillor Syed Ghani, Cabinet Member for Enforcement and Community Safety said: “The council has an important role to play in ensuring that our residents are eating safe food.

“I’d like to remind all traders in the borough about their legal obligations to comply with food hygiene legislation when importing food.”

At court, Mr Coca received an 18-month conditional discharge, was ordered to pay £2,139.40 in costs to Barking and Dagenham Council and a £22 Victim Surcharge.