A FOODLAND supermarket failed the public and breached the trust of South Australia by selling food 40 days after its use-by date, a court has heard.

In the Adelaide Magistrates Court today, the operators of Port Noarlunga South's Foodland outlet pleaded guilty to 57 counts of breaching national food standards.

They admitted that between May and October 2012 their staff sold out of date food, failed to separate rubbish from product and left the store in an unhygienic state.

Prosecutors for Onkaparinga Council said the failures were inexcusable, negligent and placed shoppers at great risk of food poisoning.

They said it was "only dumb luck" no-one suffered ill-effects.

They said the business had a quarterly turn-over of $2 million, making its directors a $60,000 profit, meaning there was more-than-adequate money to have solved the problems before the council became involved.

The council had charged the store, its general manager Vince Violi and the directors of the company that owned the store.

The offences were brought to light by a former employee, who alerted the council's food safety inspectors.

Today, the council withdrew all charges against Mr Violi as part of a plea bargain that saw the store and its directors plead guilty.

The maximum penalty for the offences, under state law, is a total fine of $570,000.

Lawyers for the store and its directors urged the court not to impose such a hefty penalty.

They stressed that no member of the public "suffered injury or risk to their health" because of the breaches.

They said their clients had changed their procedures, policies and training standards since the charges were laid.

Magistrate Luke Davis will impose penalty next month.

Examples of food displayed for sale at Foodland Port Noarlunga South past the use-by date:

4 sticks of pepperoni

1 packet of chicken breast fillet

1 packet of cheese Kransky

2 bags of dried bacon

1 packet of chorizo sausage

3 rolls of Mayfair Spicy Aussie Rolls

9 legs of Country Fresh Premium Leg Ham

3 packets of roast beef

1 container Marinated Tuscan Antipasto

6 packets Nestle Rollo Dessert

2 packets KR Castlemaine Bacon Style Rindless Pieces

1 punnet of strawberries exhibiting mould

2 trays New Zealand Half-Shell Mussels

2 packets of KR Castlemaine Virginian Ham

1 packet Hans Champagne Leg Ham

1 packet Primo Turkey Breast

1 tub Yumis Beetroot Dip

1 tube Vaalia Kids Yogurt

1 portion Edam cheese

1 tub Latina Fresh sauce

1 packet Primo Rindless Short-Cut Bacon

4 packets of Twiggy Sticks

1 Black Pudding

Other charges

Accumulation of food waste, dirt, grease and other visible matter on fixtures, fittings and equipment

Altering label on food, including premium beef mince and trays of chicken soup bones

Failing to display potentially hazardous food under temperature control including Vili's pies and pasties, San Remo fresh pasta and fillo thick style pastry

Failing to ensure that persons undertaking food handling operations had skills in and knowledge of food safety and food hygiene matters commensurate with their work activities.

Originally published as Foodland admits selling expired food