A rat infestation has prompted at a Dunedin supermarket has prompted the Ministry for Primary Industries to investigate. Photo: Google Maps
A Dunedin supermarket will close for 48 hours after more rats were trapped in the store.
Dunedin South Countdown has had an ongoing issue with rats, however, Woolworths was confident they had tackled the problem.
But Woolworths' director of stores Jason Stockill said in recent days it had become clear that was not the case.
"Our local community will be aware that we've been working to address a rodent issue at Countdown Dunedin South for the last couple of months. Food safety is our absolute priority and we have been working closely with the Ministry for Primary Industries' (MPI) NZ Food Safety division and our pest control contractor Rentokil," he said.
"We believed we had addressed the issue, as there had been no evidence of rodent activity since 28 January. Unfortunately we have caught four rodents over the last few days so it is clear we have more work to do.
"In light of this, we have made the decision to proactively manage the issue and will close Countdown Dunedin South for the next 48 hours in order to have full access to the whole store to take extra pest control measures."
Stockill told Checkpoint another pest controller was being brought in to try to find the source of the problem.
"We've been told the rodents aren't nesting in the store, they've been coming from out to in, so we need to find how they're getting in," he said.
"What this is about is having a circuit-breaker as such, but also to make a decision ourselves to go, let's get the confidence back and give Rentokil a free run at the store over those two days."
Stockill conceded the supermarket had lost customers and might need extra time to resolve the problem if more rats were trapped over the weekend.
"We definitely have had a drop in customers," he said.
"This sort of thing isn't good for our reputation or the local community and we're trying to make sure we do the right thing. We will reopen when we are confident we have disrupted the rodent pattern."
Stockill agreed it was foul to think rats were roaming around the supermarket where people were buying unpackaged produce and deli items, but said there was no evidence the rodents were eating food.
MPI had confirmed it was not a food safety issue, he said.
"I would be confident eating something from the deli there because I know it's not a food safety issue," he said.
New Zealand Food Safety deputy director-general Vincent Arbuckle said the store would close for a deep clean and to allow additional pest-management strategies to be put in place to eliminate rats.
"We will support Woolworths during this process, including having an experienced NZFS food compliance officer onsite to assist. Food safety is our top priority, so we will continue to monitor this situation and take further action, if this is needed."
The investigation was sparked by complaints of an infestation of rats after the Otago Daily Times published a photo of a rat in the supermarket's deli.
Stockill said the store would open on Monday morning if Woolworths was confident the additional measures had been implemented.
"While NZ Food Safety has confirmed we have been taking appropriate action to address the issue to date, it has become clear that our current plan is not working as effectively as anticipated and further measures are required," he said.
"NZ Food Safety and Rentokil have told us the rodents are not nesting in the store and appear to be coming in from outside. We remain focussed preventing this and on capturing them if they do get in.
"In addition to closing the store, we are also bringing in an additional pest control contractor and we'll work with them, Rentokil and NZ Food Safety. NZ Food Safety is also working with the local council surveying neighbouring areas as part of a co-ordinated response.
"Having a safe and hygienic store is incredibly important to us and we would like to apologise to our customers for any distress and inconvenience this update causes."