Impact Food Group, which caters at the school on Elsa Road, has been criticised by the council’s environmental health officer after mice droppings were found in the school’s main kitchen.
The inspector said in their report that an ‘active infestation’ by mice had been found, as fresh droppings were found on the floor during a food hygiene inspection on May 11. They added that the droppings had reportedly not been cleaned before food preparation began.
The report said: “Mice droppings were found in various locations in the kitchen indicating there was an active infestation. Fresh droppings appeared concentrated in the washing up area indicating possible access route of mice to the kitchen.”
The infestation was reportedly said to pose a high risk of contamination of food items, as well as the surfaces and equipment in the kitchen. The report said that it was understood the mice droppings were first spotted in the kitchen in summer 2022, which led to concerns about the state of cleaning and disinfection carried out at the school.
The inspector wrote that during the visit on May 11, they noted the pest control check boxes in the logbook appeared to have initially been marked as ‘no’, but had later been marked as ‘yes’. There were also reportedly no remedial actions to clean the area or remove the mice droppings or open food in containers.
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As a result of the investigation, the food provider was asked to cover all potential access points to the kitchen for mice before May 15, and to check all food and packaging for evidence of the rodents. Any opened food was instructed to be thrown away, as they could have been contaminated by the mice.
The provider was also reportedly told to remove the droppings and make sure all surfaces, crockery and cutlery had been washed and sanitised. The report said that these processes must remain in place until the infestation was under control.
The inspector added: “Thoroughly clean the premises from top to bottom i.e. walls, floors, ceilings and fixtures and fittings. This includes the dismantling of all catering machinery to remove all traces of grease and food debris. There must be nothing left for the mice to eat. Ensure areas are thoroughly cleaned and sanitised.”
An Impact Food Group spokesperson told the Local Democracy Reporting Service that the service had been rated five stars by the Environmental Health Officer for Bexley Council a few weeks ago.
Welling School was approached, but declined the opportunity to comment. A spokesperson said the school’s management company was Investors in the Community, which had not responded at the time of publication.
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