Two Morrisons stores have been handed one-star food hygiene ratings after inspections found items that “posed a risk to human health”. The supermarkets, in Cheltenham and Aberystwyth, were rated “major improvement necessary” following separate visits.
Defrosted frozen food found in Cheltenham
The Caernarvon Road store in Cheltenham was inspected unannounced on January 20. Inspectors found meat and fish products in two freezers that were not properly frozen, with one freezer recording an air temperature of -0.4C and frozen cod fillets measuring -1.1C. Frozen food is required to be generally kept at -18C or below.
Products were described as “soft and floppy” and deemed to pose “a risk to human health” as they were “not fit for human consumption”, according to a Freedom of Information request by The Grocer. Management staff agreed with this assessment.
431 items disposed of
As a result of the visit, 431 items were disposed of at the Cheltenham store, including 48 packets of Morrisons Savers Chicken Nuggets and 33 bags of Young’s Flipper Dippers. Concerns were also raised over staff awareness and the implementation of food safety procedures.
An alarm from the freezer had sounded two days prior to the visit, and a customer had made a complaint to Cheltenham Borough Council the previous day.
Aberystwyth branch also rated one star
In Wales, Morrisons’ Aberystwyth branch at Parc Y Llyn Retail Park was also handed a one-star rating after an inspection on February 26. Complaints were made about the freezer conditions as well as the cleanliness of the store.
Inspectors found dirty freezers and deli equipment. A chilli con carne ready meal and yellowfin sole fillets were also discovered on sale one day beyond their use-by dates. The report notes that a “significant quantity” of ready meals had been stored above the legal temperature limit of 8C.
The council warned that “further enforcement action” could follow, because out-of-date food had also been identified during the store’s previous two inspections.
