A Christchurch restaurateur has been sentenced to six months’ home detention and fined $20,000 for selling recalled food unfit for consumption.
Xinchen Liu, owner of Samurai Bowl on Colombo Street, pleaded guilty in November last year to one charge under the Food Act. The charge related to the sale of frozen meals containing unsafe levels of Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus), a bacteria that can cause nausea, vomiting, stomach cramps and diarrhoea.
The sentence was handed down at Christchurch District Court on 8 April, following a successful prosecution by New Zealand Food Safety.
“The consequences of S. aureus can be serious for people with compromised immune systems,” said Jenny Bishop, acting deputy director-general, New Zealand Food Safety.
“Food recalls are carried out to protect consumers. People rightly expect food businesses to sell products that are safe and suitable,” said Bishop.
Unsafe levels of the bacteria were identified during routine testing by the business. This triggered a recall on 1 June 2019 of all Samurai Bowl frozen ramen meals made since Ms Liu took ownership. She confirmed the recall had been completed and provided evidence to food safety officers. The recall was officially closed in August that year.
However, investigations later found some meals had not been destroyed as claimed. Instead, they had been stored in freezers, with portions defrosted and served to staff. Miso soup and meat from recalled meals were also served to customers.
“This was deliberate and reckless behaviour. Ms Liu’s actions had the potential to cause illness and posed a clear risk to public health,” said Bishop.
Ms Liu received the home detention sentence for both the food safety offence and an unrelated matter.
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