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Cadbury admits salmonella charges Cadbury to admit hygiene charges
(about 2 hours later)
Cadbury has pleaded guilty to six charges over a salmonella outbreak at its Herefordshire factory, which left more than 30 people ill. Confectionery giant Cadbury is to plead guilty to six charges under food and hygiene regulations.
Salmonella was found in chocolate products originating from the site in Marlbrook, Leominster, in June 2006. More than one million chocolate bars were recalled in the UK after salmonella was found in some products between January and March 2006.
The firm, which pleaded guilty before Hereford magistrates, had already admitted three charges connected to the sale of the contaminated products. The charges on Tuesday related to conditions at the company's Marlbrook site near Leominster in Herefordshire.
It will be sentenced on the nine counts at Birmingham Crown Court next week. The case at Hereford Magistrates Court was adjourned for sentencing at Crown Court in Birmingham on 13 July.
The company admitted charges relating to the state of repair of a drainage pipe and a roof vent, the poor layout of the factory and inadequate drainage and disinfection equipment. Last month, Cadbury pleaded guilty at Birmingham Magistrates Court to three offences under food and hygiene regulations in connection with a salmonella scare that led to the recall of the chocolate bars.
More than one million chocolate bars had to be removed from shelves amid fears that they were contaminated. 'Regret lapses'
On Tuesday the company's legal team signalled its intention to admit charges relating to the state of a drainage pipe, a roof vent, the layout of the factory and drainage and disinfection equipment.
The company has said the bill for dealing with the contamination may reach £30m.
Birmingham City Council, which alleged the firm put "unsafe" chocolate on the market for a period in 2006, is responsible for enforcing health and safety laws at Cadbury's plant in Bournville.
In a statement Cadbury said the company did not "sufficiently review and update certain aspects of production to meet the changing requirements of best practice."
"We sincerely regret these lapses and are focused on ensuring that this can never happen again," the spokesman added.
A review of quality and health and safety procedures has since taken place.