A SUPERMARKET giant has been fined �14,600 and ordered to pay �16,500 in costs after admitting its stores in Exmouth, Tiverton and Axminster had sold out-of-date food.

A SUPERMARKET giant has been fined �14,600 and ordered to pay �16,500 in costs after admitting its stores in Exmouth, Tiverton and Axminster had sold out-of-date food.Tesco Stores PLC, which has a store in Salterton Road and an express shop in Brixington, pleaded guilty to seven offences of selling food past its use-by dates.Tesco was fined a total of �14,600 and an additional �16,500 in legal costs to Devon County Council. Exeter magistrates heard how Tesco supermarkets in Exmouth, Tiverton and Axminster had been caught selling out-of-date food.The magistrates also heard how Trading Standards Officers discovered further offences following two complaints from Tesco customers.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 after their 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.