The Range superstore hit by £640k fine after horror rat infestation found near food

The Range has been fined nearly a million pounds for breaking food hygiene offences as rats were found gnawing on human and pet food at a superstore in Taunton, Somerset

The Range has been slapped with a hefty fine of nearly a million pounds for food hygiene offences after a store was found to have rats gnawing on both human and pet food.

Following an investigation by Somerset Council into the superstore in Taunton, Somerset, the company was fined £960,000, which was reduced to £640,000 due to an early guilty plea. The probe revealed rat-damaged packaging and droppings next to food in the shop area and warehouse.

Rats are known to spread serious illnesses like E.coli, Weil's Disease and Toxoplasmosis to humans. Despite advice from the council and their pest control company, The Range failed to control the rat activity.

The business also failed to protect food from contamination and keep the premises clean and maintained in a clean condition. Guilty pleas were entered by CDS (Superstores International) Ltd, operating as The Range Home and Leisure at Hankridge, Taunton, for seven food hygiene offences in September 2023.

The sentencing hearing was adjourned to December 4 - where the fine was issued, and the business was ordered to pay £190 surcharge and £26,593 - the full cost to Somerset Council for taking the case to court. Officers from Somerset Council first received a complaint in March 2022 regarding a severe rat infestation.

This led to a long investigation over an 8-month period involving over 20 visits, which resulted in an Emergency Hygiene Prohibition Notice being served in August 2022 to prohibit the business selling food for human consumption. The Notice was made into an Emergency Hygiene Prohibition Order by the Magistrates Court in September 2022. Then during monitoring visits made to the premises, it was found that food was being sold in contravention to the Order which could have caused an imminent risk to health.

A spokesperson from The Range said: “As a responsible retailer, we strive to attain and maintain the highest standards of food safety for our customers. We are disappointed that we did not meet our own high standards on this occasion and while it was a complex situation at just one of our stores we do acknowledge this is a serious matter. Measures to combat the issue were taken at the time and steps have also been taken across all our stores to prevent the risk of recurrence. As a company we will continue to put the health and safety of our colleagues and valued customers first."

Cllr Federica Smith-Roberts, Lead Member for Communities, Housing and Culture said: “The fine imposed by the court recognises the significance of the rat infestation in the business and the potential this had to cause harm to human health. Environmental Health Officers across Somerset work hard to ensure food businesses are compliant with food safety legislation and will take enforcement action where necessary in line with the Somerset Council Enforcement Policy.” You can check the food hygiene rating of a business by visiting the Food Ratings website.

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