Miceland: Mitcham and Morden Icelands fined after droppings and dead mice found in stores

Last year Merton Council carried out unannounced inspections of the Morden and Mitcham stores following complaints from customers that bread and crisps had been gnawed on by the rodents.

The first inspection took place in March of 2017 where, after examining a loaf bought from the Mitcham store, the council found "teeth marks consistent with a small rodent found on the crust."

A subsequent investigation by the council throughout the store found mouse droppings and gnawed products.

A voluntary agreement was made to destroy all affected food, carry out a deep clean, increase the pest control and proofing measures.

But that didn't do the trick.

When a reinspection was made later that month to check on the promised improvements, mouse droppings were again found throughout the store, and there was evidence that food on display for sale had been attacked by mice.

RELATED: Miceland: Mitcham Iceland supermarket closed after fears 'serious' mouse problem has caused 'significant risk' of food contamination

As it was evident that there was a risk to public health, the store closed and prohibited from re-opening for a week.

Then in July council officers made an unannounced visit to Iceland’s Morden store after a complaint from a customer who had noticed two packets of crisps had been gnawed by a rodent.

Officers visited immediately and found several packets of gnawed biscuits on display in the biscuit aisle and mice droppings on the shelves.

Iceland’s pest control records indicated that mice droppings had been found behind pallets and by the biscuit aisle on the shop floor, and dead mice were regularly found in traps

The inspection revealed debris and dirt behind the chest freezers on the shop floor, proving that the area was not regularly cleaned. A broken sauce bottle was found behind a chest freezer and had leaked its contents onto the floor. This was despite it being known that there was mice activity in the shop.

Once again the store was forced to close for a week.

At Wimbledon Magistrate’s Court, on August 13 this year, Iceland pleaded guilty to three offences of placing unsafe food on the market and one offence of failing to keep the premises clean at their Mitcham Store. One offence of placing hazardous food on the market and one offence of failing to keep the premises clean at their Morden store.

At the same court on November 21, Iceland was fined £70,000 for each offence, making a total fine of £420,000. The court awarded the council costs of £10,100 and ordered Iceland to pay a victim surcharge of £170.

The council's cabinet member for community and culture, Nick Draper, said: “This case demonstrates our ongoing commitment to the residents of Merton and I am grateful to the council’s environmental health team who are regularly out in the borough, making inspections and taking action when it’s needed to ensure that businesses comply with hygiene standards."