The sandwich supplier at the centre of the listeria outbreak was warned for breaching rules on recording the temperature of goods – a key measure to stop bacteria spreading.
An inspection of The Good Food Chain in 2017 found temperatures on some records for incoming goods had been filled out beforehand rather than being left blank for staff to complete when receiving items.
The Good Food Chain said the issue was dealt with immediately.
Deadly toll: A sandwich made by the firm at the centre of the listeria outbreak
Its premises had not been inspected for 11 months when its sandwiches were identified as the source of a deadly outbreak that has killed five hospital patients.
The firm said last night the breach involved pre-printed temperatures on labels for goods kept at ambient temperature, such as tinned or dried foods, and did not involve ingredients that needed chilling.
But a leading food expert said it undermined measures to avoid the spread of infections.
Professor Tim Lang, of the Centre for Food Policy at City, University of London, said: ‘If temperatures were already pre-printed into forms this would completely destroy the whole purpose of having such forms, which is to record the truth and to identify risks.
‘It makes a mockery of good risk management. If this is allowed to be done to form filling, it might also indicate that there are more serious failings elsewhere.’
The inspection, carried out by Stafford Borough Council in June 2017, said pre-filled forms should be withdrawn immediately. It also found another breach at The Good Food Chain, which is based in Stone, Staffordshire, that needed tackling immediately.
The Good Food Chain, which supplied the sandwiches, is based in Stone, Staffordshire
Its report said: ‘The blade of a heavy duty can opener was dirty, which would cause contamination... in the next tin
