AN African food import and distribution company, its company director and manager have been ordered to pay more than £13,000 between them after an investigation by Thurrock Council's Trading Standards Team uncovered that they distributed contaminated palm oil.

On Tuesday, 3 September, Colchester Magistrates' Court ordered MacPhilips Foods LTD, previously based in Juliet Way, Purfleet-on-Thames, to pay £6,000 in fines, a £2,000 victim surcharge and £5,000 costs.

The company, which has since moved out of Thurrock, pleaded guilty to six charges under the Food Safety and Hygiene (England) Regulations 2013, including failing to recall the affected oil containing illegal Sudan dyes, which can potentially cause cancer or harm human DNA. 

Company manager Andrew Ekechukwu and company director Alexander Okoli each pled guilty across six charges and were both ordered to pay £600 in fines and a £240 victim surcharge.

The council's Trading Standards Officers first received intelligence in April 2023 that a brand of palm oil sold by MacPhilips Foods LTD contained illegal Sudan dyes. The industrial dyes are not permitted for human consumption due to their potential health risks. Repeat requests for product information were not provided and the company took five months to send accurate information to enable the unsafe oil to be recalled.

In that time, Trading Standards Officers visited local retailers and found contaminated oil at two premises. The Thurrock based shops confirmed they had never been advised about a recall. 

Cllr Victoria Holloway, Cabinet member for Place and the Environment, said: "Thanks to the efforts of our Trading Standards Team, the contaminated oil has been removed from the market, despite delays caused by the company's poor record keeping. The company has been successfully prosecuted.

"We take the health and wellbeing of our residents seriously and will continue to act on reports of contaminated or illegal goods."

Report concerns about products or businesses to the Citizens Advice consumer helpline on 0808 223 1133 or via our Trading Standards webpage.