A court date has been set for the prosecution of one of the UK’s biggest distributors of oriental food after it allegedly changed the labels on out-of-date food.

Kim Son and its sister company Longdan Ltd, which are based at the same address in Estate Way, Leyton, were raided by trading standards officers in April last year following a tip-off from a former employee.

Waltham Forest Council, which alleges it caught the firm "red-handed", says the out-of-date food was ambient or frozen, so did "not represent a risk” to public health.

The case will be heard on June 13, though the Guardian is awaiting details of which court it will take place at.

Kim Son, which has a reported multi-million pound annual turnover, boasts on its website of being the largest supplier of Vietnamese seafood in the country.

It reportedly distributes products to around 600 oriental food shops and restaurants across the country.

Longdan, which says its cash-and-carry at the site is the largest of its kind in the UK, claims to sell more than 5,000 dry food items.

The former employee who tipped off the council and contacted the Guardian said the firm had a dedicated machine which systematically changed the dates on the food packaging.

He also claimed that on some occasions the products were several years past their sell-by dates.
The council said it has no reason to believe this is continuing.

Kim Son and Longdan have been approached for comment.

A woman, who said she was a manager at Kim Son, previously told the Guardian: "This is between the council and the company.”