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Auckland samosa seller fined thousands for food safety lapses

As per report, the company also faced further penalties, with manager Bhavesh Soma fined $3,000 for providing false information to a food safety officer.

A Mt Roskill-based samosa wholesaler and caterer, Tasty Foods, has been hit with a hefty fine of $13,500 for failing to keep essential food safety records.

According to NZ Herald, the fine, handed down in the Auckland District Court on Monday, stems from the company’s failure to adhere to its Food Control Plan.

Soma & Sons, trading as Tasty Foods, was found guilty of neglecting to record crucial cooking and cooling temperatures between 2020 and 2022.

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As per report, the company also faced further penalties, with manager Bhavesh Soma fined $3,000 for providing false information to a food safety officer.

NZFS deputy director-general Vincent Arbuckle expressed concern over the company’s disregard for food safety, stressing that such lapses put consumer health at risk. While no illnesses have been reported, the lack of records meant that authorities had no assurance the company was following its food safety plan.

Arbuckle emphasised the importance of thorough record-keeping, saying,

“Good record keeping is an important part of a food safety culture. It ensures that, in case of a food safety issue, we can trace the origin and act swiftly to protect consumers.”

In 2021, New Zealand Food Safety (NZFS) was forced to recall fully cooked samosas from Tasty Foods after they were found to be stored at unsafe temperatures. Despite multiple visits from NZFS officers, the company repeatedly failed to comply with the necessary record-keeping requirements.

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