Chippy owner fined for serving sausage and chips containing soya - despite being asked for soya-free meal

Sercan Vural, owner of Vural’s Fish and Chips in Lennox Street, Bognor Regis, was fined £800 and made to pay £1,500 in costs and an £80 victim surcharge on Friday, February 14, after an investigation by West Sussex Trading Standards.

Vural pleaded guilty to selling sausage and chips, which contained soya, to a trading standards officer who posed as a customer with a soya allergy.

Despite asking for a soya-free meal, when the sausage and chips was sent for analysis it was found to contain soya.

Vural had been warned about poor allergen control at his premises in the past by officers, but during the follow-up visit it became clear he had not acted on this advice.

Appearing in court, he failed to present any evidence to suggest his staff had been given any form of allergen training.

Peter Aston, West Sussex Trading Standards team manager, said: ‘The consequences of poor allergen control can be deadly.

‘Even though no one was harmed on this occasion, someone with a severe food allergy could potentially have died.’

Councillor Deborah Urquhart, West Sussex County Council’s cabinet member for environment, added: ‘The dangers of poor allergen management should not be underestimated.

‘I urge other food businesses to make sure they have proper allergen controls in place.’