Perpetrators of $1 million organic scam prosecuted
A local city council in the UK and the Food Standards Agency have successfully prosecuted the company behind an organic food scam worth more than half a million pounds (~A$1million).
A home delivery and wholesale business named One Foods Limited supplied a range of products falsely described as organic to consumers and businesses across the UK. The fraud took place over a five year period.
One Food Limited Director Neil Stansfield has received a 27 month prison sentence, while Company Secretary Kate Stansfield and Operations Manager Russell Hudson, both received suspended sentences and 150 hours of community work. All three pleaded guilty to selling conventionally grown food as organic.
Sarah Appleby, Head of Enforcement at the FSA, said it was good to see the courts take the offence seriously.
“I am delighted that justice has been done,” she said. “The FSA takes all food fraud very seriously and this is a perfect example of the FSA working closely with local authorities to stamp it out.”
