UK-based food products supplier Good Food Chain (GFC) has gone into liquidation despite being cleared in an investigation into the recent listeria outbreak.

The Staffordshire-based company, founded by Martyn Corfield in 1996, voluntarily suspended production operations on 5 June following the deaths of five hospital patients due to the alleged consumption of listeria-contaminated pre-packed sandwiches that were produced by the company.

However, the UK’s Food Standards Agency (FSA) stated on 26 June that the company was not the source of the outbreak and subsequently was cleared by the multi-agency inquiry.

FSA stated: “The business has been verified as meeting food safety legislation and as following best practice for manufacturing, cleaning and environmental standards.”

As a result of suspension of production activities since 5 June, the company stated that the impact was too great for the business to remain viable.

The decision to cease operations has affected 125 employees, as well as 40 agency staff.

The Good Food Chain owner and founder Martyn Corfield said: “I was absolutely devastated to hear that people had died after contracting listeriosis and have been thinking constantly about all those affected and their families over the last few weeks.

“We have been co-operating very closely with the investigating authorities, and while Wednesday’s confirmation that the Good Food Chain was not the source of the outbreak was welcome, it ultimately came too late in the day for us to get the business back on to a sustainable footing.

“I feel desperately sorry for our brilliant and hardworking staff who, through no fault of their own, now find themselves out of work. I would like to thank them for everything they have done for the Good Food Chain, and particularly for their loyalty and patience over the last few weeks.”

GFC added that the liquidation is handled by Currie Young.

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