An organic food business has been ordered to close after environmental health inspectors discovered a mice infestation at the premises. Mice droppings were found in the shop area, packing room and warehouse at Leicester Wholefood Co-operative, magistrates heard.
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Alison Cadmore, environmental health officer with the city’s food safety team, described it as “one of the worst mice infestations” she had seen.
Magistrates granted a hygiene emergency prohibition order against the premises at Unit 3 in Freehold Street, St Matthew’s.
It means the owners, who have already called in a pest control firm, must ensure their premises are cleaned to the food safety team’s satisfaction before they can resume trading.
Miss Cadmore, in a report prepared for the court, said she carried out a routine food hygiene inspection at the company.
She said: “When I went into the packing room I noticed a strong smell of mice.
“There were droppings on the shelves, on the worktop next to the sinks, near a toaster and kettle, and close to open bags of chocolate covered raisins.”
In the shop area, Miss Cadmore found mouse droppings next to two chocolate Easter eggs, on a pack of spaghetti, under baskets of food, and on shelves near to dried fruit, chocolate bars, fruit juice, canned food and soap.
She said: “There was also a build-up of dirt and food debris under some retail shelves and behind freezers and refrigerators indicating poor standards of cleaning.”
The court heard Miss Cadmore and a colleague found bags of flaked almonds and nuts nibbled by mice. In the warehouse, droppings were found in a spillage of muesli and on pallets where food was stored.
Miss Cadmore said: “Old boxes, crates and paper sacks were stacked about a metre high in the warehouse and we found a nest underneath all these items.
“I later saw a mouse running along the wall and floor in this part of the warehouse.”
The inspector said she closed the business down with immediate effect because of the “imminent risk” posed to public health.
Miss Cadmore said she revisited the premises and told the court: “A substantial amount of cleaning has been done, especially in the storage area, but there is still a lot of cleaning that needs to be carried out.”
No-one from the business was present at court. As well as the hygiene emergency prohibition order, magistrates ordered the owners of Leicester Wholefood Co-operative to pay costs of £723.20.
Speaking after the case, Miss Cadmore said: “This was one of the worst mice infestations I have seen. The onus is now on the owners to clean the premises and invite us back.”
Further Information
This article is sourced from the ‘This is Leicestershire’ website, which can be found here
