One of the UK’s biggest distributors of oriental food has been fined for changing use-by dates on some of its products.

Longdan Ltd, which is based in Estate Way, Leyton, pleaded guilty to three charges of breaching food labelling regulations.

In January 2012 staff re-labelled and re-dated eight boxes of Hao Hao Noodles, six boxes of Mr Kim Chi Noodles and an unknown quantity of Thai Nguyen Special Green Tea cartons.

The business was ordered to pay a fine of £750 for each offence at Thames Magistrates’ Court on Friday, as well as court costs of £4,700 and a victim surcharge of £120.

The same charges facing sister company Kim Son Limited, which is based at the same address, were dropped.

The charges came after a former employee tipped off trading standards officers last year.

He had claimed that the firm had a machine which it used to change dates on food packaging.

The council said the out-of-date food was ambient or frozen and did not pose a risk to public health.