Sweets for sale with mouse dropping topping

Prosecutions and Claims |
17.03.2008

Pharmaceutical chain Superdrug has been fined £4,000 for leaving sweets for sale despite the fact they were covered in mouse droppings and urine.

The drug retailer pleaded guilty to four offences under the General Food Regulations 2004 and the Food Hygiene (England) Regulations 2006 at City of Westminster Magistrates court.

Westminster City Council's Food Team brought the prosecution against the store at London's Victoria Station after an inspection by the council's environmental health officers in January 2007 revealed a serious mouse infestation. The investigation found 151 droppings on a confectionary stand and found that food was not adequately protected from pest contamination. Droppings were found on ready-to-eat confectionary, food was not stored in pest-proof containers and doors were left open when they should have been shut.

As a result of the inspection in January 2007, a total of 1,064 products were deemed unsafe and removed from sale. Superdrug Stores Plc was fined £1,000 for each of the four offences and ordered to pay more than £3,000 in costs.

"A company of this size and repute should be more than capable of ensuring the wellbeing of its customers," said Richard Block, operations manager for food, health and safety at Westminster City Council. "The fact staff left sweets on sale even though they were obviously gnawed and covered in mouse droppings is at best extreme negligence and at worst a flagrant and knowing disregard for public health."

He added that the council takes all food hygiene issues very seriously and hopes this case prompts serious change at Superdrug.