Cadbury faces court over salmonella scare

Updated 13.50 Mon Apr 23 2007

Keywords: Birmingham City Council, chocolate, Cadbury

Chocolate giant Cadbury is to face prosecution for a salmonella scare which saw a million of its products pulled from shelves.

The company has been accused of three offences by Birmingham City Council, including the placement of "unsafe" chocolate products on the market.

The company has been summonsed to Birmingham Magistrates' Court on June 15 and if found guilty the could face unlimited fines and/or a two year prison sentence

The confectionery firm will also face prosecution for allegedly not immediately informing the appropriate authorities of the potential health risks and failing to "identify hazards" from contaminated products.

The company has been summonsed to Birmingham Magistrates' Court on June 15 and if found guilty could face unlimited fines and/or a two year prison sentence for each offence.

The move follows an intensive investigation mounted by the council in the wake of the salmonella outbreak. The company blamed the contamination on a leaking pipe at one of its main factories in Marlbrook, Herefordshire.

Cadbury said in a statement: "We have fully co-operated with the authorities throughout their inquiries and we will examine the charges that have been brought."

It added: "As there is now legal action pending, it would be inappropriate for us to comment further."