A SUPERMARKET has been made to pay £6,950 after it sold a loaf of bread with a broken knife blade in it.

The three inch blade was found baked into a white sandwich loaf which had been baked at the Sainsbury’s in Pallant Way, Locksbottom.

It had been bought by a member of the public who complained to Bromley Council’s environmental health department.

The loaf of bread, along with two knives from the branch, were sampled by environmental health officers and then sent to an independent analyst for forensic examination.

Forensic analysis confirmed that the object was a three inch knife blade which had been baked into the loaf.

The analyst was also able to confirm that the blade was from the same type of knife used in the store.

This investigation led the council to be satisfied an offence had been committed so it prosecuted the store at Bromley Magistrates’ Court under the Food Safety Act.

Sainsbury’s pleaded guilty to selling food not of the substance demanded by the purchaser and was fined £3,350.

It was also made to pay Bromley Council’s costs of £3,600.

The portfolio holder for public protection and safety Councillor Tim Stevens said: "The council's food safety team works with more than 2,000 food businesses in the borough to ensure the highest standards are maintained.

“Prosecutions like this are quite rare but in this case it was proportionate to prosecute because this constituted a serious failure to protect food from contamination."

A spokesperson from Sainsbury’s said: “Incidents like this are extremely rare and we take them very seriously.

“We set the highest standards of safety in all our stores and have stringent procedures in place, which was recognised by the court in this case.

“We have also reviewed procedures to help ensure this doesn’t happen again.”