An Auckland company's been fined 10-thousand dollars for adding sulphites to beef mince

Food manufacturer and wholesalers Diversity Foods has been sentenced in the Manukau District Court to charges laid under the Food Act.

Sulphites and sulphur dioxide aren't allowed to be added to raw meat, as they can cause allergy-like symptoms, particularly in people with asthma.

Over the period in which offending occurred, the company sold more than 23-thousand kilograms of beef steak meat, worth an estimated 163-thousand dollars.

MPI food compliance manager Jenny Bishop says food businesses need to make sure their products are safe and suitable for consumption.