Connah's Quay chip shop boss fined for fake cod

A chip shop operator has been fined for passing off an inferior fish as cod.

Patty Leung, 30, of the M and M shop and take-away in Connah's Quay, advertised its fish as cod, Flintshire magistrates heard.

But they heard the business instead used panga, from Vietnam, gaining a commercial advantage over over competitors.

Leung, who admitted failing to sell fish of the quality demanded, was fined £200 with £615 costs.

Tim Dillon, prosecuting for Flintshire council, said a food safety officer made a sample purchase at the takeaway in August 2010 and was told by a member of staff "we only sell cod here."

But when the officer revealed her identity and split up the sample in sealed bags for analysis, a member of staff got on the telephone and the officer spoke to Leung's mother, who was the business's owner.

She said that the fish was not cod but said that she had not had time to change the menus.

The fish was found to be panga, which Mr Dillon said gave the take-away a commercial advantage over competitors who were honestly selling cod.

'Commercial advantage'

Brian Cross, defending, said that his client's family had been in business in the area for more than 20 years and were respectable and well thought of.

The defendant's mother had owned the business but she was unable to have day-to-day control because she was running a similar business in Buckley.

While the fish sold was not cod, Mr Cross stressed that there was no risk or danger to anyone.

But it was accepted that it would have meant a commercial advantage.

Leung was not a high-flying business woman but a busy mother trying to juggle a number of things to make ends meet, the court heard.