Fines for firms selling fake Wonka Bars, contaminated palm oil

A business in England has been fined for selling counterfeit Wonka chocolate bars with incorrect labeling and undeclared nut allergens.

Mayank Soneji, director of SP Wholesale Limited, appeared at Luton Crown Court in September. After pleading guilty to food safety and trademark offenses, Soneji was fined £5,265 ($6,940), while the company was fined £5,824 ($7,680).

In March 2022, a Luton Council Environmental Health Officer visited the SP Wholesale distributor to inspect the premises’ hygiene standards. During the inspection, the officer observed staff removing the outer wrappers from cheap, imported chocolate bars and replacing them with Wonka Bar labels.

Warehouse conditions were unhygienic, with mice and pigeons in the unit and unclean surroundings. Paperwork found at the premises revealed that these fake Wonka Bars were being supplied to shops across the UK.

It was later discovered that chocolate contained allergens such as peanuts and almonds, which were not listed on the packaging. As a result, the business had to carry out a nationwide product recall. The label also had a fake address, and the company did not obtain permission from the trademark holder to use the Wonka Bar wrappers.

Gerard McCleave, corporate director for inclusive economy, said: “It’s vitally important that food labeling includes all ingredients, as they can pose a health risk to anyone who suffers from a related food allergy. Soneji has shown a complete disregard for the safety of his customers in his actions.”

The Food Standards Agency (FSA) has previously warned people not to buy or eat several types of counterfeit chocolate bars, including those with Wonka and Prime labels.

In August 2023, a sweet shop owner was prosecuted by Powys County Council for selling chocolate bars branded Wonka without the correct format for allergen information.

Sudan dyes in palm oil

In a different incident, an African food import and distribution firm, its director, and its manager were told to pay more than £13,000 ($17,100) each for distributing contaminated palm oil.

In September, Colchester Magistrates’ Court ordered MacPhilips Foods, previously based in Purfleet-on-Thames, to pay £6,000 ($7,900) in fines, a £2,000 ($2,600) victim surcharge and £5,000 ($6,600) costs. The company moved out of Thurrock and pled guilty to six charges under the Food Safety and Hygiene (England) Regulations 2013, including failing to recall affected oil containing illegal Sudan dyes.

Company manager Andrew Ekechukwu and director Alexander Okoli each pled guilty and were ordered to pay £600 ($791) in fines and a £240 ($316) victim surcharge.

Thurrock council’s trading standards officers received information in April 2023 that a brand of palm oil sold by MacPhilips Foods contained Sudan dyes. The industrial dyes are not permitted for human consumption due to potential health risks.

Despite repeated requests for product information, details were not provided, and the company took five months to send accurate information to enable the unsafe oil to be recalled. At that time, trading standards officers visited local retailers and found contaminated oil at two premises. The Thurrock-based shops confirmed they had not been advised about a recall.

Victoria Holloway, the cabinet member for place and the environment said: “Thanks to the efforts of our trading standards team, the contaminated oil has been removed from the market, despite delays caused by the company’s poor recordkeeping.”

Unknown animal head

In another case, the operator of a Hayes food store was ordered to pay more than £3,700 ($4,900) after Hillingdon Council officers found the head of an unidentifiable animal in a freezer.

Jean Bitulu appeared at Uxbridge Magistrates’ Court in September, where he admitted failing to ensure the traceability of food products in accordance with food safety and hygiene regulations. 

The court was told an environmental health officer and a food safety officer from Hillingdon Council undertook an unannounced food hygiene and safety inspection at John Foods in July 2023.

Officers found dried black smoked fish with mold in a chest freezer, frozen grubs and insects, and the head of an unknown animal – later identified as an African bush pig, a product not permitted in the UK. 

There were no receipts or invoices related to the food, and when asked where the items had come from, Bitulu said there was no documentation because a lady had walked into the shop with the products and asked how much he wanted to buy. 

The court heard frozen fish was found without labeling to indicate what it was or where it had come from. Products were removed from sale as they did not comply with traceability requirements and could not be sold to the public for consumption. 

Eddie Lavery, Hillingdon Council’s cabinet member for residents’ services, said: “This is a shocking example of a local business flouting regulations that are in place to keep everybody safe. Buying stock of unknown provenance out of the suitcase of a passer-by is as far from safe or sensible practice for a food business as you can get.”

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