A packet of shelled walnuts opened by a customer when preparing a stuffing last March contained a flattened and dehydrated mouse. At Craigavon Magistrates Court yesterday, Valley Gold Ltd, Duncrue Street, Belfast, was fined £300 and ordered to pay £100 legal costs and a £98 analyst's fee.
The court was told by a defence lawyer that the walnuts came from India, and that the firm packaged 250 tonnes of shelled walnuts and related material each year. The firm had told its quality control staff to be extra careful in future.