Cadbury waiting for punishment

Updated 16.06 Mon Jul 16 2007

The chocolate company Cadbury is waiting to be sentenced over a Salmonella scare.

Cadbury has pleaded guilty at Birmingham Crown Court to breaching food and hygiene regulations in the summer of 2006 and the scare led to the recall of more than a million chocolate bars.

Cadbury has pleaded guilty at Birmingham Crown Court to breaching food and hygiene regulations in the summer of 2006

The Health Protection Agency said contamination at Cadbury's factory at Marlbrook, Herefordshire was the most likely cause of illness in more than 30 people.

The facts of the case prosecution brought by Birmingham City Council have yet to be opened in court.

But Cadbury has apologised for failing to realise a leaking pipe at the Marlbrook factory posed a risk to health.

The firm's barrister, Anthony Scrivener QC, told a previous hearing that it had already spent £20 million on improvements, including changes to quality control procedures.

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