Crawley business fined for selling unsafe food

‘Unsafe food’ was sold at Spice World in Bank Lane, according to West Sussex County Council.

"West Sussex Trading Standards has identified serious food safety breaches at Spice World in Crawley following a covert test purchase,” a council statement read.

"In September 2024 an officer made a test purchase of a lamb doner kebab and specifically asked whether the product contained milk. The staff member incorrectly assured the officer that it did not.

"Subsequent laboratory analysis confirmed the presence of milk protein in the kebab, rendering it unsafe for those with milk allergies.”

The council said the inspection was ‘part of a follow-up investigation’. This was to ‘assess compliance after a previous prosecution’.

The statement continued: “On 4 April 2024, EH Enterprise Limited, trading as Spice World, along with its director Zeshan UL HAQ and manager Ashan UL HAQ, were convicted at Crawley Magistrates’ Court.

"They were fined for supplying unsafe food by providing incorrect allergen information and misdescribing a lamb doner kebab, which was found to be a mixed-meat product primarily containing beef.

“On Thursday 26 February 2026, EH Enterprise Limited, trading as Spice World, its director Zeshan UL HAQ and manager Ashan UL HAQ appeared in court and entered guilty pleas.

"Each defendant was ordered to pay a £146 fine, a £58 victim surcharge and £500 in costs, totalling £704 each. The company was ordered to pay a £1,000 fine and a £400 victim surcharge, with no costs awarded, totalling £1,400.”

Duncan Crow, cabinet member for community support, fire and rescue, said serving food, ‘without declaring the correct allergens present’, can have ‘dire consequences’.

He added: “It needs to be taken seriously by food business owners and their staff.

“I’m pleased that in this case our Trading Standards officers were able to identify the offence before any residents came to harm.”

The Food Information Regulations 2014 state that businesses have a ‘responsibility to provide accurate allergen information to all customers that request it’.

"The consequence of poor allergen control can result in prosecution, immediate closure or a poor food hygiene rating,” the council added.

For more guidance for food businesses, visit: www.westsussex.gov.uk/business-and-consumers/trading-standards-advice-for-businesses/guidance-for-food-businesses/#allergy-information-for-catering-businesses

If a consumer wishes to report a business to Trading Standards, they can do so via: https://www.westsussex.gov.uk/business-and-consumers/trading-standards-information-for-consumers/report-an-incident-or-issue-to-trading-standards/