Discount store aren’t just dropping their prices...after mouse excrement found on shelves

An Islington branch of Poundland has been fined over £12,000 after signs of “widespread rodent activity” were found by Council health officers.

The discount store on Seven Sisters Road, Holloway was fined for food hygiene breaches when mouse droppings and traces of urine were found among food shelves in April last year.

Food packaging was also found to have been damaged by mice to such an extent the food was spilling onto the shelves and floor, Highbury Magistrates were told.

Inspecting officers also found the stores cleaning procedures to be inadequate, revealing gnawed food and mouse faeces, which appeared to be congealed in mouse urine.

Following the findings, Poundland closed the affected food aisles to remove the contaminated stock and disinfect the area.

But later food hygiene visits in August 2014 found similar offences and two notices were served requiring the Poundland store to improve their cleaning procedures.

Poundland were later fined £9,750, plus a victim surcharge of £120 and costs of £2,950, after pleading guilty to failing to keep premises clean and food protected from contamination.

Cllr Paul Convery, Islington Council’s executive member for community safety, said: “We are determined that food businesses follow the basic cleanliness and hygiene standards required by law to help keep customers safe. Businesses failing in this duty will be held to account by the council and by the courts.”

A Poundland spokesperson said:“Poundland takes matters relating to the health and safety of its colleagues and customers very seriously. We are working with the local Environmental Health Office to ensure adequate procedures are in place.”