Two Morrisons stores have been handed one-star food hygiene ratings after inspectors discovered defrosted and out-of-date food. Officers said the products "posed a risk to human health" at a store on Caernarvon Road, Cheltenham, where freezers measured just –0.4°C.
Defrosted meat and fish found in Cheltenham
During an unannounced visit on January 20, inspectors said it was clear that meat and fish products in two freezers were not frozen because many were "soft and floppy", according to findings released in a Freedom of Information request. One freezer recorded an air temperature of –0.4C, while frozen cod fillets measured -1.1C. Frozen food should generally be kept at –18C or below.
The inspector concluded the defrosted products "posed a risk to human health" and were "not fit for human consumption", reports media outlet The Grocer. Management staff agreed. A total of 431 items were thrown away, including 48 packets of Morrisons Savers Chicken Nuggets and 33 bags of Young's Flipper Dippers.
Staff awareness concerns raised
The report also raised concerns about staff awareness. The freezer alarm had sounded two days before the inspection, while a customer had complained to Cheltenham Borough Council the previous day. Inspectors said Morrisons' food safety procedures had not been properly implemented at the store.
Aberystwyth branch also fails
The Aberystwyth branch at Parc Y Llyn Retail Park also received the "major improvement necessary" rating following an inspection on February 26, after complaints about the store's cleanliness and freezers. Officers found a chilli con carne ready meal and yellowfin sole fillets being sold a day beyond their use-by dates. They also found dirty freezers and deli equipment, while a "significant quantity" of ready meals was stored above the legal limit of 8C.
The council warned that "further enforcement action" could follow, as out-of-date food had also been raised during the previous two inspections. A Morrisons spokesperson said: "We take food hygiene issues extremely seriously and these reports reflect historic issues in both cases. As soon as we became aware of the rating, we took immediate action to address and resolve the issues raised. We are working towards re-inspections at both stores."
They said Morrisons was addressing some specific and infrastructure issues, and the total number of food hygiene failures had fallen year on year. It is understood that Morrisons' Weybridge store, which received a zero rating in May, has been reinspected and is expected to receive a five-star rating.
