Asda fined £664,000 over mouse droppings found in west London store

The store was closed for 10 days in September last year while investigations were carried out
Guilty plea: The supermarket giant admitted four offences of breaching food safety and hygiene regulations
Ealing Council
Fiona Simpson8 November 2016

Supermarket giant Asda has been fined £664,000 after mouse droppings and an infestation of vermin was discovered in a west London store.

The Park Royal branch of the chain was closed for 10 days in September last year when a customer launched a complaint after finding mouse droppings in a packet of bread rolls.

The Standard previously reported that Mike Draycott, an environmental manager for a construction company, bit into one of the cheese rolls purchased at the store before realising the six-pack was riddled with mouse droppings.

He said at the time: “I saw little black flecks in it, the same shape and size as cumin seeds, and I realised they were mouse droppings.

“I felt absolute shock, panic, and disgust. I thought 'Oh my God, I've just eaten rodent droppings.

Hefty fine: Adsa were forced to pay £664,000 after admitting food hygiene breaches
Ealing Council

"I thought 'is it rat droppings?' I'm an environmental manager, and we're warning people all the time about the risks of leptospirosis from rat droppings, it can kill."

Asda pleaded guilty to four food safety and hygiene offences at Ealing Magistrates’ Court on September 1.

Health inspection: Mouse droppings were discovered in a packet of bread rolls purchased from the store in west London
Ealing Council

The supermarket giant was fined £664,000 during sentencing on November 4.

The company was also forced to pay £7,599 in costs to Ealing Council and £500 in compensation to Mr Draycott plus a £120 victim surcharge.

Councillor Ranjit Dheer said: “This is a great result for the council and I am very pleased that the court has recognised the seriousness of these offences and has imposed such a heavy fine.

"People expect the highest standard when they shop for food and put their faith known brands and Asda should know better.”

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