An Auckland woman whose company slaughtered thousands of chickens in what has been described as stomach-churning conditions has been fined $23,000 in Papakura District Court.
The Food Safety Authority took the prosecution against Ling Zhang and her company, Ling Ling Poultry, saying there was no electricity, refrigeration, running water or sanitation in its factory.
She was fined $20,000 for selling chickens that had not been processed in line with the Animal Products Act, and $3,000 for failing to have a risk management plan.
The authority says the company put consumers directly at risk because poultry is a chief source of leading food-borne illness campylobacter.
Food Safety Authority spokesperson Justin Rowlands says it welcomed the penalty imposed by the court.
Mr Rowlands said the scene, discovered by an officer at the company's Ardmore barn, was harrowing.
Judge Eddie Paul convicted and discharged the company because it is no longer trading.
