A pop-up Co-op store at the Isle of Wight Festival was forced to throw out food after hygiene inspectors raised concerns and slapped it with a ‘major improvement necessary’ rating.
A recently released report from the Isle of Wight council branded the temporary Co-op store at Seaclose Park with a one out of five food hygiene rating.
Repeat of 2022 situation
Environmental health inspectors also found the same problem at the Co-op’s 2022 Isle of Wight Festival store, due to the hot weather, and meetings were held earlier this year to discuss how the problem would be avoided ahead of the 2023 event.
Co-op: Immediate action taken
A Co-op spokesperson said they took immediate steps on the day of the inspection to rectify the issues and they have since taken further action, implementing measures at subsequent and all future festival stores to ensure their usual high standards are met.
Officers visited the festival on Thursday, 15th June, and again on Friday, after they spotted an issue with the chiller cabinets.
Temperature sensors not being used correctly
Staff at the Co-op store were reliant on automated temperature monitoring equipment which alerted them when the temperature went over 5°C.
However, all the sensors were placed at the back of the shelves where the temperature was below 5°C but items at the front, including sandwiches, pasties and wraps, were measured above 8°C, with some even up to 15°C.
Storing that type of food above 8°C would allow food poisoning bacteria and moulds to grow and lead to deterioration in food quality.
Staff were unaware it was being stored at that higher temperature.
Changes to storage
The items that were too hot were disposed of and a marker was placed on each shelf so that food would not be stored at the front.
A time recording system was also put in place.
Non-compliant and inadequate
The inspectors were concerned that measures were only put in place after their intervention so gave the store a one out of five food hygiene rating.
They said there were no effective monitoring procedures at critical points and highlighted it was an issue in 2022, which meant it was ‘again non-compliant and inadequate’.
The failure to implement critical control ‘had the potential to lead to a situation presenting an imminent risk’.
This article is from the BBC’s LDRS (Local Democracy Reporter Service) scheme, which News OnTheWight is taking part in. Some alterations and additions may have been made by OnTheWight. Ed
