A Birmingham Primark customer experienced a shocking discovery this week when he spotted a live mouse trapped inside a sealed pillow bag at the retailer's flagship city centre store.
Horrifying Discovery in High Street Store
The incident occurred on Tuesday when shopper Giorgio, originally from Italy but now living in Moseley, noticed unusual movement inside a £12 memory foam pillow's plastic packaging. Upon closer inspection, he realised a small rodent was scampering back and forth, apparently trying to escape its transparent prison.
Customer and Staff Reaction
Giorgio immediately alerted store staff members, who reportedly expressed equal surprise at the disturbing find. According to his account, while another customer simply laughed and walked away upon seeing the mouse, Giorgio felt sufficiently unsettled that he now believes he needs to "wash everything" in future purchases "even if it's wrapped."
Video footage captured by Giorgio shows the mouse actively moving within the sealed pillow packaging, clearly visible through the plastic. The shopper described how the rodent was later seen loose in the store before jumping into a basket containing additional pillows.
Evidence of Nesting Behaviour
"The mouse went in there and there were sweet wrappers inside that he was eating," Giorgio revealed, suggesting the animal had been foraging within the store's merchandise. He further observed signs of nesting behaviour, noting: "There was a small box underneath the cushions and that was where the mouse made his nest."
Primark's Response to the Incident
In a statement provided to BirminghamLive, Primark confirmed it was taking "urgent steps" to address the situation. A company spokesperson emphasised: "We expect all our stores to operate to the highest standards of cleanliness and safety, and we are concerned to hear of this report."
The retailer added that it was working to resolve the issue "with minimal disruption to customers and colleagues" while remaining open for business as usual. This incident raises significant questions about stock storage and pest control protocols within busy retail environments, particularly concerning sealed items customers would reasonably expect to be hygienic.
Broader Implications for Retail Hygiene
While isolated incidents can occur in any large retail operation, this event highlights the challenges of maintaining impeccable standards in high-traffic city centre stores. Consumers purchasing sealed bedding items typically assume they're buying products protected from contamination during storage and transportation.
The discovery of a live mouse within what appeared to be factory-sealed packaging suggests potential vulnerabilities in supply chain or in-store storage procedures that retailers must continually monitor and address.
