Thevas convenience store in Gosport visited by food inspectors after customer reports seeing a mouse
Store given 0 rating despite ‘very good’ hygienic food handling
A convenience store in Gosport was visited by food inspectors after a customer reported spotting a mouse in the shop.
Thevas on Palmyra Road closed overnight on August 13 for cleaning after inspectors found evidence of mouse activity. A pest controller also attended to treat the shop with a return visit scheduled.
The store was handed a zero rating by the inspectors who highlighted that a “thorough clean” was needed with “droppings found in multiple locations”.
As well as cleaning, which was undertaken ahead of the report being issued, the report flagged that it was “vital” all areas are kept clean to ensure effective pest control checks moving forwards.
The report stated: “You need to undertake the pest proofing as identified by the pest controller to prevent further access by pests. Staff had placed wood over the gap to the back door; you need to make sure that this is a permanent fix and mice can’t access the premise.”
Other issues flagged included the need for a chest freezer to be cleaned and defrosted while the shop floor was found in “poor condition” and in need of repair.
A copy of the shops electric safety certificate was also requested after the inspectors had “concerns” over the condition of the electrics due to wires running along and above equipment and there was a large number of cables located behind the till.
When visiting eateries, inspectors judge the establishments in three areas; hygienic food handling; cleanliness and condition of facilities and building; and management of food safety. Thevas’ hygienic food handling was rated ‘very good’ while its management of food safety was given ‘major improvement necessary’ and its cleanliness ‘urgent improvement necessary’.
Thevas had 21-days to appeal the rating before it was released. It can be found at https://ratings.food.gov.uk/business/627402/thevas