Editor's Note...A previous version of this story was headlined "Man, 38, 'spat into plastic tubs' to be served at Nandos". This suggested that the item alleged to have been spat in would have been delivered to Nando's when in fact it could have been delivered to any of the businesses supplied by the factory.
A 38-YEAR-old man is accused of spitting and pouring fish sauce into plastic tubs not meant to contain fish at the Worcestershire food production company he was working for.
The tubs were produced by the Harvey & Brockless Fine Food Company in Evesham and would be supplied to national restaurants including the Nando's group, Worcester Magistrates Court was told.
Garry Jones, of Larch Road, Evesham, entered no plea to a charge of contaminating/interfering with goods with intent when he appeared in the dock of Courtroom 2 on Thursday, (June 8).
The charge reads Jones: "Between October 1, 2022, and November 1, 2022, with intent to cause public alarm or injury to members of the public - contaminated or interfered with goods.
"Namely 24 hummus tubs with rubber gloves, plastics bags and metal ring pulls; metal ring pulls in tubs of sesame and ginger dressing, sesame miso dressing and Vietnamese chilli and ginger dressing; and poured fish sauce into dressings which should not contain fish."
Mark Hambling, prosecuting, explained Jones had worked at the company, based in Millennium Way, Evesham, and was involved in the production of the tubs.
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Tubs began being returned to the company as contaminated leading the firm to investigate, the prosecutor said.
Mr Hambling highlighted that restaurants, where the product was later served, would say 'does not contain fish' on their menus - so it would be potentially deadly if consumed by someone with an intolerance.
The prosecutor said, among the allegations, Jones had poked a hole into a plastic container and spat into it which he said was caught on CCTV.
The prosecutor added the allegations had potential reputational damage to the Evesham firm.
Jones also faces a charge of burglary with intent to steal.
The prosecution says that took place in Barley Orchard Court, Evesham, on October 26 - the alleged victim being a co-worker the prosecutor says was at home at the time.
Mr Hambling added the charges were not suitable for magistrates as both were outside their sentencing powers.
Mark Turnbull, defending, described the charges as "unusual", as they were ones he had never seen before.
Philip Newton, chairman of the magistrates bench, told Jones to attend the next hearing of the case at Worcester Crown Court on July 12.
The defendant was given conditional bail.
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