A BUSINESS in Leamington which falsely claimed foods it sold could treat and prevent cancer, fight diabetes, lower blood pressure and protect against heart disease has been prosecuted.
Warwickshire Trading Standards Service took action after Pure and Raw Ltd and its director Ravinder Aujla repeatedly refused to remove or change unauthorised statements it was making about the foods.
Claims being made at the Regent Street store, and on the company’s website, included flax oil helped fight against breast cancer; ginger could treat ovarian cancer, goji berries protected against heart disease; kale had anti-cancer and anti-depressant effects; and beetroot lowered blood pressure.
At Nuneaton Magistrates Court, Pure and Raw Ltd, registered at Tachbrook Park in Warwick, pleaded guilty to 12 offences under the Nutrition and Health Claims (England) Regulations 2007.
Aujla also pleaded guilty to 12 offences under the Nutrition and Health Claims (England) Regulations 2007.
The company was fined £500 per offence plus a victim surcharge of £50 – a total of £6,050. Aujla was fined £200 per offence plus a £30 victim surcharge, plus costs of just over £2,000 – a total of £4452.57.
The chairman of the bench said the law was precise and well-regulated and Aujla had fallen foul of it repeatedly, and had failed to respond to advice from trading standards.
Ekwall Tiwana, representing both Pure and Raw Ltd and Aujla said she was passionate about her business and was very remorseful.
He added the business had now hired a compliance officer, a food and health expert who understood how to run the company properly.
Warwickshire community safety spokesman Andy Crump said: “Warwickshire Trading Standards is keen to protect people living with cancer, diabetes, heart disease and other serious conditions from businesses that make illegal claims about the foods they sell.”
