Mailbox Tesco Express closed after signs of mice

A Tesco Express in Birmingham city centre has been closed for more than a week after evidence of mice was found inside.

A city council officer visited the shop at the Mailbox on 9 October after receiving a complaint. Green plastic sheeting has since been put up to cover the inside of the store, and signs that went up last week told customers: "We're working to get things back to normal."

"No imminent risk"

The council said the inspection did not find an imminent risk to public health, so no emergency closure notice was served. Instead, Tesco decided to close the shop itself.

"Following a complaint, an officer visited the shop on 9 October," a council spokesperson said. "Evidence of mice activity was identified but, based on the findings at the time of inspection, it was determined there was no imminent risk to public health. No emergency closure notice was served. Tesco chose to close the premises voluntarily while it addressed the issues."

Tesco apologises

A Tesco spokesperson said: "We set ourselves the highest store standards and have decided to temporarily close our Birmingham Mailbox Express store as a precautionary measure. We are sorry for the inconvenience caused, and are working hard to re-open as soon as possible."

The company did not say when the shop would reopen.

How food safety inspections work

Environmental health officers at the city council inspect food businesses, from restaurants and takeaways to supermarkets and market stalls, to check that food is being handled and stored safely. Inspections can be routine or, as in this case, prompted by a complaint from a member of the public.

If officers find an imminent risk to health, they can serve an emergency notice closing a business straight away, and must then go to court to confirm the closure. Where the risk is less serious, they can give advice or issue formal notices requiring improvements, and businesses often choose to close voluntarily while problems such as pests are dealt with.

Signs of mice can include droppings, gnawed packaging and greasy marks along walls. Food businesses are expected to have pest control contracts and to keep their premises sealed against rodents, which can carry bacteria and contaminate food.

Rodent problems in city centre shops and restaurants are not unusual, particularly in older buildings and in the colder months, when mice look for shelter indoors. The Mailbox, a former Royal Mail sorting office beside the canal, is home to shops, restaurants, offices, flats and a hotel.

Food hygiene ratings for businesses in Birmingham can be checked on the Food Standards Agency's website. Anyone who is concerned about hygiene at a food business can report it to the council's environmental health team.