An investigation of Salford-based Manchester Meat Products (MMP) in April 2015, found the company was cooking kebabs at its factory. The meat firm did not have approval from the local council to cook the products it made on site.
The food firm had moved to Salford from Manchester six months before the investigation. But it was still using an European Commission (EC) identification mark from its previous factory to reassure customers about its hygiene standards and to avoid the expense of producing new labels.
Using the older labels meant products could not be accurately traced.
Loading food products into car boots
Staff from the factory were spotted loading goods into car boots after Salford council environmental health officers placed a ban on the company from removing its products from the site.
Environmental health officers also found production manager Turgay Bagdagi relabelling products that were being recalled from a Cheetham Hill wholesaler.
MMP pleaded guilty at Manchester and Salford Magistrates Court, on June 15, to placing products of animal origin on the market which had been produced in a factory not authorised for that purpose.
Two other hygiene offences
The company admitted to two other food hygiene offences. Those were failing to comply with a detention notice, preventing it from removing the products from the premises and failing to apply the correct EC identification mark.
The mark showed the kebabs had been manufactured in an approved premises.
Bagdagi pleaded guilty to all three charges.
MMP was fined £4,050 for the offences, while Bagdagi was fined £555. The company was ordered to pay costs of £4,369 and a victim surcharge of £157.
Salford Council's deputy leader David Lancaster said: “We want to work with business and help them thrive, but if they flout the law we will not hesitate to take action. Food safety is paramount.”