Menu
15/06/2007
Cadbury pleads guilty to salmonella charges
Cadbury has pleaded guilty to three hygiene offences in connection with a salmonella scare last summer.
Birmingham City Council, which is responsible for enforcing health and safety legislation at Cadbury's plant in Bournville, had alleged that the firm had put "unsafe" chocolate on sale last year between January and March.
One million chocolate bars had to be recalled last year.
It was also alleged that the firm failed to immediately inform relevant authorities about potential dangers and failed to identify "hazards" posed by the salmonella contamination.
Each charge has a maximum penalty of unlimited fines and/or two years imprisonment.
The company is due to be sentenced at Birmingham Crown Court on July 13.
At a hearing at Birmingham Magistrates Court, Anthony Scrivener QC, acting on behalf of Cadbury, said that the firm did not agree with all of the facts put forward by the prosecution, but said that it accepted responsibility and pleaded guilty to the charges.
Mr Scrivener also said that the company had spent £20 million in order to improve its systems.
A statement issued by Cadbury after the hearing said: "Mistakenly, we did not believe that there was a threat to health and thus any requirement to report the incident to the authorities - we accept that this approach was incorrect.
"Quality has always been at the heart of our business, but the process we followed in the UK in this instance was unacceptable. We have apologised for this and do so again today."
Cadbury is also facing a second set of charges brought by Herefordshire Magistrates over possible environmental breaches at their factory near Leominster.
(KMcA/JM)
Birmingham City Council, which is responsible for enforcing health and safety legislation at Cadbury's plant in Bournville, had alleged that the firm had put "unsafe" chocolate on sale last year between January and March.
One million chocolate bars had to be recalled last year.
It was also alleged that the firm failed to immediately inform relevant authorities about potential dangers and failed to identify "hazards" posed by the salmonella contamination.
Each charge has a maximum penalty of unlimited fines and/or two years imprisonment.
The company is due to be sentenced at Birmingham Crown Court on July 13.
At a hearing at Birmingham Magistrates Court, Anthony Scrivener QC, acting on behalf of Cadbury, said that the firm did not agree with all of the facts put forward by the prosecution, but said that it accepted responsibility and pleaded guilty to the charges.
Mr Scrivener also said that the company had spent £20 million in order to improve its systems.
A statement issued by Cadbury after the hearing said: "Mistakenly, we did not believe that there was a threat to health and thus any requirement to report the incident to the authorities - we accept that this approach was incorrect.
"Quality has always been at the heart of our business, but the process we followed in the UK in this instance was unacceptable. We have apologised for this and do so again today."
Cadbury is also facing a second set of charges brought by Herefordshire Magistrates over possible environmental breaches at their factory near Leominster.
(KMcA/JM)
Related UK National News Stories
Click here for the latest headlines.
23 April 2007
Cadbury to face charges over salmonella scare
Confectionary giant Cadbury Schweppes is to be prosecuted over a salmonella scare, which forced the company to recall a million chocolate bars. Birmingham City Council confirmed that Cadbury would be charged with three offences under health and safety legislation.
Cadbury to face charges over salmonella scare
Confectionary giant Cadbury Schweppes is to be prosecuted over a salmonella scare, which forced the company to recall a million chocolate bars. Birmingham City Council confirmed that Cadbury would be charged with three offences under health and safety legislation.
19 January 2010
American Firm Buys Cadbury
Directors at UK chocolate producer Cadbury have approved a £11.5bn ($18.9bn) buy-out deal by American food firm Kraft. Kraft said the deal would create a "global confectionery leader". However, fears have been raised over jobs at Cadbury's Bournville and Somerdale manufacturing sites.
American Firm Buys Cadbury
Directors at UK chocolate producer Cadbury have approved a £11.5bn ($18.9bn) buy-out deal by American food firm Kraft. Kraft said the deal would create a "global confectionery leader". However, fears have been raised over jobs at Cadbury's Bournville and Somerdale manufacturing sites.
16 October 2015
Man Arrested Over False Firearms Alert
A man has been arrested for wasting police time after allegedly sparking a firearms alert with a bogus 999 call reporting an armed man near a Birmingham supermarket. Armed police were deployed to Sainsbury's in Castle Vale at around 17:30 on Thursday, 15 October, when the alarm was raised over a man seen with a handgun.
Man Arrested Over False Firearms Alert
A man has been arrested for wasting police time after allegedly sparking a firearms alert with a bogus 999 call reporting an armed man near a Birmingham supermarket. Armed police were deployed to Sainsbury's in Castle Vale at around 17:30 on Thursday, 15 October, when the alarm was raised over a man seen with a handgun.
31 July 2014
Fire Destroys Former Home Of Cadbury Family
A fire has destroyed the former home of the Cadbury family in Birmingham, West Midlands Fire Service has confirmed. It is understood that the fire broke out at Northfield Manor House at about 20:00 on Wednesday. Up to 100 firefighters were at the scene fighting the blaze at its height.
Fire Destroys Former Home Of Cadbury Family
A fire has destroyed the former home of the Cadbury family in Birmingham, West Midlands Fire Service has confirmed. It is understood that the fire broke out at Northfield Manor House at about 20:00 on Wednesday. Up to 100 firefighters were at the scene fighting the blaze at its height.
15 January 2015
Cadbury's Announce 200 Job Cuts
Cadbury's has announced 200 job cuts at its Birmingham plant. It follows an announcement last year by owners Mondelez International of an investment of £75m in new production lines at the plant. It had warned that the investment could result in job losses.
Cadbury's Announce 200 Job Cuts
Cadbury's has announced 200 job cuts at its Birmingham plant. It follows an announcement last year by owners Mondelez International of an investment of £75m in new production lines at the plant. It had warned that the investment could result in job losses.
-
Northern Ireland WeatherThis Evening and Tonight:Bright spells with a few showers continuing through this evening. Some drier, clearer periods in the early hours, before cloud builds and showers turn more persistent towards dawn. Minimum temperature 4 °C.
