Booker has been given a food hygiene rating of two out of five by Canterbury City Council after rat droppings and gnawed food were discovered during an inspection at a depot in Kent.
According to Kent Online, inspectors visited the Broad Oak Road branch on 24 February and found rodent droppings in the warehouse and on the shop floor, including near milkshakes and bread. Some of the food had been gnawed by rodents.
Environmental health officers warned that pest control measures must be implemented, and any contaminated products must be removed from sale. Their report stated: “You must remove all droppings, clean and sanitise properly. Call pest control and carry out cleaning checks. You must identify contaminated stock and droppings before opening the shop.”
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It also highlighted several cleanliness issues across the site. Areas identified included dirty surfaces, shelving in the butchery section, units in the produce room, and the heater area in the main shop – all of which were flagged as high priorities for deep cleaning.
In addition, repairs were required to the lighting and ceiling in the deli freezer to enable proper cleaning.
The branch has since received a follow-up visit, during which progress was noted. A further inspection is expected.
A Booker spokesperson said: “Maintaining the safety and cleanliness of branches remains our top priority. We’re working closely with the local authority and external partners to make improvements on site, along with additional training for colleagues, to ensure we meet the high standards we hold ourselves to.”
