Supermarket rats: Woolworths stores on lookout for rodents, birds or insects - leaked memo

The Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) is investigating after a video surfaced of a mouse scurrying across the rim of a salad bowl at Christchurch’s Eastgate Countdown.

By RNZ

Woolworths has issued an internal memo instructing staff to report any in-store sightings or evidence of rodents, birds or insects to their duty manager.

The document leaked to RNZ stated cleanliness and pest control review would be carried out next week.

It comes after rodents were found at two Woolworths stores in recent weeks - as well as one Pak’n Save store.

At least 24 rats have been caught at Dunedin South Countdown over the past week.

Meanwhile, a mouse was seen scurrying through the deli cabinet at Eastgate Countdown.

The Dunedin store is to remain closed until there is a 48-hour period within which no rodents are captured.

Individual store teams and mangers were required to read and sign the memo as being understood and actioned by Tuesday.

The memo required the duty manager to enter details in a “pest sighting register” as soon as as a report was made.

Woolworths' internal memo instructing staff to report any in-store sightings or evidence of rodents, birds or insects to their duty manager.

The manager would then be required to log a job with Rentokil.

“They will also review the surrounding areas for immediate cleaning opportunities,” it said.

The duty manager was then required to escalate the issue to store manager.

The memo said food debris, cardboard and general rubbish created places for pests to nest and increased the risk of pest activity.

Staff were asked to check “high-risk areas” daily.

These included bulk food storage and bins, as well as the grocery, sugar, flour, prop bread, pasta, pet food and cereal sections.

“Look under bins on [the] shop floor for dropped food.”

Staff were also asked to look for bakery flour and ingredient residue on floors.

“All bins should be enclosed and have lids, and external doors should be kept closed as much as possible.”

The memo asked cleaning procedures to be followed “as required in the food safety manuals”.

- RNZ