A major UK supermarket has been handed a one-star food hygiene rating after inspectors discovered out-of-date sausages and overflowing freezers at its store in Kent.
The Iceland branch in Swanley Square Shopping Centre was inspected earlier this year, with officials finding a packet of sausages past their use-by date stored in a fridge. Freezers were also overfilled, and some food was being kept at unsafe temperatures.
Details of the Inspection
The Food Standards Agency (FSA) inspection took place in early 2025, resulting in a rating of one out of five stars, meaning major improvement is necessary. The report highlighted several concerns, including poor stock rotation and inadequate temperature control.
An Iceland spokesperson said: "We take food safety extremely seriously and have addressed the issues raised immediately. We are working closely with the local authority to ensure the highest standards are met."
Customer Reactions
Shoppers expressed disappointment at the rating. Local resident Mary Thompson, 45, said: "I shop there regularly and never noticed anything wrong, but it's worrying to hear about out-of-date food."
The store has since implemented new procedures, including more frequent temperature checks and staff retraining on date-checking protocols.
Iceland has over 900 stores across the UK and says it is committed to improving hygiene standards at all locations.
