Improvements have been made at an Isle of Wight convenience shop after it was found to have out-of-date meat, fruit and vegetables on its shelves.
In March, Loco – Broadway Stores, in Totland Bay, was given the lowest possible food hygiene rating of zero — meaning urgent improvements were necessary.
Environmental Health officers from the Isle of Wight council visited and served two improvement notices on the Nisa branch.
Items past their use by date
At the time of the inspection, ready-to-eat chicken sausages, breaded ham, cooked pepperoni and turkey ham were all past their use-by date, as well as raw chicken thighs, soup and quiche Lorraines.
The items were thrown away.
While barriers had been put in place to separate raw and ready-to-eat meats it was noted the products were still being mixed together.
Other concerns
Inspectors also raised concerns with the number of fruit and vegetables that were for sale in poor condition.
These included very ripe bananas; avocados that were ‘extremely ripe to touch’; ‘dried up and wilted’ butternut squashes which had had the best before dates removed and grapefruits ‘that were not in a good condition’.
Poor general standard of hygiene
The general standard of hygiene was poor, inspectors said, with the shop floor dirty and chipped and missing parts in places as well as debris present in most areas.
Rubbish was not being stored in a way that it could be protected from pests and was creating a messy environment.
No monitoring procedures in place
Inspectors also found no system of control or monitoring procedures in place and staff could not say if any monitoring had been carried out.
There was also no evidence to suggest staff had been trained in food hygiene policies and practices they should follow.
Milk and raw meat on same shelf
A disorganised manner of stock display, inspectors felt, prohibited effective checks to be undertaken, including multiple items being stored on the same shelves like milk behind raw meat and items being stored on the shop floor.
Rectified problems and “done everything” officers had asked
Speaking today (Monday, 17th April), a spokesperson from the shop recognised mistakes were made, but following the visit from the Isle of Wight council had rectified the problems and “done everything” the officers had asked.
They said an officer visited two weeks after the initial inspection and had seen the changes.
Inspectors are due to revisit again later this month and the spokesperson said they will continue to improve.
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
