Woolworths New Zealand has issued an apology after a series of incidents involving rodents were reported in its Countdown supermarkets across the country. The supermarket giant acknowledged the distress and inconvenience caused to customers and vowed to take necessary actions to address the issue.
The apology comes in the wake of multiple incidents, including a rat being photographed in the deli section of Dunedin South Countdown in November, leading to the store’s closure for deep cleaning. Additionally, a mouse was filmed crawling through the salad section of Countdown Eastgate in Christchurch on February 7, prompting concerns about food safety and hygiene.
Jason Stockill, Woolworths New Zealand’s director of stores, emphasized the company’s commitment to food safety and pest control, stating that while pests are a common challenge in food environments, it is their responsibility to prevent their entry and take prompt action if they do enter.
Stockill outlined steps being taken to address the issue, including issuing a food safety alert to remind teams of pest control procedures, conducting inspections across stores, and reviewing their partnership with pest control contractor Rentokil. Moreover, internal escalation processes are under review to ensure concerns about pest management are effectively addressed.
The New Zealand Food Safety (NZFS) has also initiated an independent review of Woolworths’ pest management processes across its operations to ensure compliance with food safety regulations. Vincent Arbuckle, deputy director-general of NZFS, affirmed that food safety is a top priority and assured swift action to protect consumers.
Countdown Dunedin South had been assessed in October 2023, with acceptable outcomes, but recent rodent issues prompted further investigations. NZFS has recommended the closure of Countdown Dunedin South until satisfactory evidence of pest control measures is obtained.
Woolworths NZ continues to work closely with NZFS and Rentokil to resolve the issue and will cooperate with the independent review by AsureQuality. The supermarket chain expressed regret for the inconvenience caused to the community and assured regular updates on the situation.
Meanwhile, concerns have been raised by a Chinese tourist who witnessed the incident at Countdown Eastgate, expressing disbelief at the lack of immediate action taken. The incident has sparked discussions about hygiene standards in New Zealand supermarkets.
The ongoing efforts by Woolworths NZ and regulatory authorities aim to ensure the highest standards of pest management and food safety across Countdown supermarkets nationwide.