Shocking discovery in Woolworths milk fridge leaves customers appalled
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For one Woolworths shopper, a routine trip down the dairy aisle unexpectedly took a disgusting turn.
Their shocking revelation sparked a wave of concern among customers, prompting an investigation by the supermarket giant.
A Woolworths store in Rozelle, Sydney, has come under fire for alleged hygiene breaches after a customer claimed to have discovered black mould growing in the dairy fridge, along with expired products on the shelves.
The customer took to a local online group to share her unsettling discovery. 'Just wondering if anyone else has hygiene concerns about Woolworths Rozelle Metro?' she asked.
'Black mould on the shelves, constantly selling expired dairy/poultry products—have already reported this but has anyone else experienced something similar?'
Mould Expert Dr Cameron Jones confirmed that the substance seen in the photos shared by the customer was indeed mould, although he couldn't identify the exact species from the images.
Mould is a type of fungus that thrives in damp environments and can cause health problems, particularly in people with weakened immune systems or allergies.
Its presence in a food retail environment is a serious concern. Not only can it contaminate food products, but it can also become airborne and pose a risk to customers and staff through inhalation or skin contact.
Certain types of mould and yeast, such as Exophiala sp or Aureobasidium sp, can even thrive in cold environments like fridges and cause infections affecting the skin, hair, and nails.
Responding to the allegations, a Woolworths spokesperson stated that the company takes food safety very seriously and was disappointed to see these reports.
'We will be investigating them with the store as a matter of priority. The fridge has now been thoroughly cleaned, and we apologise to our customers for this experience,' a spokesperson said.
However, this incident has raised questions about the overall hygiene standards at Woolworths Rozelle Metro.
Several other customers have reported similar observations, with some even claiming to have suffered food poisoning after shopping at the store.
A shopper said: ‘It's disgusting! I have reported it several times to the staff/management in store. I have also written to their head office!’
‘I have noticed a big decline in Rozelle Metro. I have stopped shopping there so much, and I have been a daily shopper in the past. Lots of empty shelves. Veges are often of poor quality. A lot of stock is not on the shelves. Often, no one is available at the front desk,’ another said.
Preventing Mould Growth in Retail Environments
Retail environments, particularly those dealing with fresh produce and dairy products, need to maintain high standards of hygiene to prevent mould growth.
This includes regular cleaning and disinfection, proper ventilation, and maintaining appropriate temperatures in refrigerated areas.
Dr Jones suggests that the inside of fridges should be cleaned using regular steam disinfection of the internal areas, followed by cleaning with a sporicidal disinfectant.
'This fridge should have a temperature maintenance log and a cleaning schedule that should be updated and monitored for compliance,' he added.
Have you ever encountered a similar situation while shopping? Share your experiences and thoughts in the comments below.
Their shocking revelation sparked a wave of concern among customers, prompting an investigation by the supermarket giant.
A Woolworths store in Rozelle, Sydney, has come under fire for alleged hygiene breaches after a customer claimed to have discovered black mould growing in the dairy fridge, along with expired products on the shelves.
The customer took to a local online group to share her unsettling discovery. 'Just wondering if anyone else has hygiene concerns about Woolworths Rozelle Metro?' she asked.
'Black mould on the shelves, constantly selling expired dairy/poultry products—have already reported this but has anyone else experienced something similar?'
Local shoppers have reported the Woolies store multiple times due to its hygiene problems. Image: Facebook
Mould Expert Dr Cameron Jones confirmed that the substance seen in the photos shared by the customer was indeed mould, although he couldn't identify the exact species from the images.
Mould is a type of fungus that thrives in damp environments and can cause health problems, particularly in people with weakened immune systems or allergies.
Its presence in a food retail environment is a serious concern. Not only can it contaminate food products, but it can also become airborne and pose a risk to customers and staff through inhalation or skin contact.
Certain types of mould and yeast, such as Exophiala sp or Aureobasidium sp, can even thrive in cold environments like fridges and cause infections affecting the skin, hair, and nails.
Responding to the allegations, a Woolworths spokesperson stated that the company takes food safety very seriously and was disappointed to see these reports.
'We will be investigating them with the store as a matter of priority. The fridge has now been thoroughly cleaned, and we apologise to our customers for this experience,' a spokesperson said.
However, this incident has raised questions about the overall hygiene standards at Woolworths Rozelle Metro.
Several other customers have reported similar observations, with some even claiming to have suffered food poisoning after shopping at the store.
A shopper said: ‘It's disgusting! I have reported it several times to the staff/management in store. I have also written to their head office!’
‘I have noticed a big decline in Rozelle Metro. I have stopped shopping there so much, and I have been a daily shopper in the past. Lots of empty shelves. Veges are often of poor quality. A lot of stock is not on the shelves. Often, no one is available at the front desk,’ another said.
Preventing Mould Growth in Retail Environments
Retail environments, particularly those dealing with fresh produce and dairy products, need to maintain high standards of hygiene to prevent mould growth.
This includes regular cleaning and disinfection, proper ventilation, and maintaining appropriate temperatures in refrigerated areas.
Dr Jones suggests that the inside of fridges should be cleaned using regular steam disinfection of the internal areas, followed by cleaning with a sporicidal disinfectant.
'This fridge should have a temperature maintenance log and a cleaning schedule that should be updated and monitored for compliance,' he added.
Have you ever encountered a similar situation while shopping? Share your experiences and thoughts in the comments below.
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