Production manager at Northampton meat company prosecuted after obstructing food hygiene inspector

A production manager who worked at Northampton meat company has been prosecuted after obstructing a Food Standards Agency (FSA) inspector.

Emma Nakova, of Braunston Close, was sentenced at Northampton Magistrates’ Court on January 17, 2024 after pleading guilty to the obstruction of an officer acting in the execution of the Hygiene Regulations.

The 46-year-old obstructed the officer on December 15, 2021 at a unit in Rothersthorpe Avenue, Far Cotton, home to Northamptonshire Food Services Ltd. The company is described as a mince meat establishment, meat preparation establishment, cold store cutting plant and rewrapping and repackaging establishment.

Nakova was a production manager at the firm, at the time of the offence and delayed entry to the premises for the inspector who was attempting to carry out an unannounced visit, according to the FSA.

On sentencing her, the magistrate said: “You were the production manager at this company, and you knew full well that you must open the door to those who are looking to see if there are any offences or anything untoward in that business. That's important because the agencies must know in order to protect public health if there is anything untoward going on at the premises.

"I take the view this was wilful blindness to it which gives high culpability and a category two offence, aggravated by the state of some of the meat in production.”

Andrew Quinn from FSA said: "This case shows that people who stand in the way of our work can become personally liable for substantial costs – it’s vital that we gain access to fulfil our own responsibilities to check whether anything untoward is going on. Deterring people who don’t play by the rules and ensuring they don’t get away with it helps support legitimate businesses and we continue to work together with industry to protect the consumer.”

Nakova was sentenced to a fine of £500, victim surcharge of £200 and full prosecution costs of £12,118.18.

Northamptonshire Food Services Ltd is a FSA approved premises, which means it is subject to visits to ensure food is safe and to make sure requirements in food hygiene legislation are met. The company was rated ‘generally satisfactory’ in its latest audit, carried out on June 28, 2023.