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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
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| Supermarkets accused over hygiene | Supermarkets accused over hygiene |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Food hygiene rules have been flouted at branches of two major UK supermarket chains, a BBC investigation has found. | Food hygiene rules have been flouted at branches of two major UK supermarket chains, a BBC investigation has found. |
| Undercover reporters from Whistleblower say customers were misled about freshness of food on the meat and fish counters at Sainsbury and Tesco stores. | Undercover reporters from Whistleblower say customers were misled about freshness of food on the meat and fish counters at Sainsbury and Tesco stores. |
| Sainsbury said action was taken to address issues raised but safety had not been compromised. | Sainsbury said action was taken to address issues raised but safety had not been compromised. |
| Tesco said the film did not represent otherwise high standards and staff in the store concerned had been retrained. | Tesco said the film did not represent otherwise high standards and staff in the store concerned had been retrained. |
| Whistleblower reporter Audrey Brown applied for a job at a Sainsbury's store in Didcot, Oxfordshire, after receiving information from a former employee. | Whistleblower reporter Audrey Brown applied for a job at a Sainsbury's store in Didcot, Oxfordshire, after receiving information from a former employee. |
| In one part of the programme, she is seen working on the meat counter where she identified products being sold a day after their sell-by date without customers' knowledge. | In one part of the programme, she is seen working on the meat counter where she identified products being sold a day after their sell-by date without customers' knowledge. |
| She was also told it was acceptable to shave the tops off some joints of meat to make them look fresher. | She was also told it was acceptable to shave the tops off some joints of meat to make them look fresher. |
| It is not illegal to sell food past its sell-by date, but it is store policy at both Sainsbury's and Tesco that once the food has passed that date it should not be sold to customers. | It is not illegal to sell food past its sell-by date, but it is store policy at both Sainsbury's and Tesco that once the food has passed that date it should not be sold to customers. |
| At Tesco, it is claimed such food was re-labelled and sold at a cheaper price and in one incident another undercover reporter is told to take some steaks that are past their use-by date and mince them for sale. | At Tesco, it is claimed such food was re-labelled and sold at a cheaper price and in one incident another undercover reporter is told to take some steaks that are past their use-by date and mince them for sale. |
| At Sainsbury's, the BBC found deliveries would sometimes go astray and could not be unpacked quickly enough for them to be chilled in time. | At Sainsbury's, the BBC found deliveries would sometimes go astray and could not be unpacked quickly enough for them to be chilled in time. |
| 'Entirely unrepresentative' | 'Entirely unrepresentative' |
| Both companies issued statements in response to the programme's allegations. | Both companies issued statements in response to the programme's allegations. |
| As a precaution, have retrained all counter staff in this store Tesco Standards disappoint | As a precaution, have retrained all counter staff in this store Tesco Standards disappoint |
| Sainsbury's said: "We have identified some instances where our procedures had not been followed correctly at that store and have taken the necessary action to ensure these matters are addressed. | Sainsbury's said: "We have identified some instances where our procedures had not been followed correctly at that store and have taken the necessary action to ensure these matters are addressed. |
| "Any local breakdown in procedure is entirely unrepresentative of the hard work and commitment to the high standards displayed every day by Sainsbury's store colleagues." | "Any local breakdown in procedure is entirely unrepresentative of the hard work and commitment to the high standards displayed every day by Sainsbury's store colleagues." |
| Tesco said: "We take allegations of this nature very seriously and, as a precaution, have retrained all counter staff in this store. | Tesco said: "We take allegations of this nature very seriously and, as a precaution, have retrained all counter staff in this store. |
| "Our customers should not be fooled into thinking that this programme has uncovered systematic failures or that the public is at risk." | "Our customers should not be fooled into thinking that this programme has uncovered systematic failures or that the public is at risk." |
| Whistleblower goes out on Tuesday 22 May at 9pm on BBC One. | Whistleblower goes out on Tuesday 22 May at 9pm on BBC One. |
| If you work in a supermarket and have come across similar working practices we would like to hear from you. If you have been affected by this story your comments would also be welcome. | |