A Kroger grocery store in Smyrna, Georgia, had to clean up a rat infestation after state inspectors found evidence of rodents in the store and a trailer parked in the loading dock. The Georgia Department of Agriculture issued a stop-sale order on Friday, August 4, 2023, after receiving a complaint from a former employee who claimed to have seen rats at night.
The inspector found rodent droppings, evidence of burrowing, and a strong smell of urine in the trailer, as well as rodent activity in the storage area of the store. The contaminated food was ordered to be destroyed and the store was instructed to sanitize the affected areas and partner with a local pest company.
The former employee, Amber Dent, said she worked as an overnight associate at the Kroger on South Atlanta Road for three months and left her job because of the rat problem. She said she heard stories about the rats from other workers and then started seeing them herself. She said the smell was nauseating and the situation was disgusting and revolting.
Kroger responds to the incident and takes action
Kroger, which is America’s largest grocery chain, said it took quick action to remediate the situation and followed the guidance and direction of the Georgia Department of Agriculture. The company said food safety is its number one priority and that it is also bolstering operational and training protocol at the store.
A Kroger spokesperson said in a statement: “This video is disturbing, and we have taken quick action to remediate the situation, including thoroughly cleaning and sanitizing the store and partnering with a local pest company.”
The spokesperson did not specify how long the rat problem had been going on or how it started. The spokesperson also did not comment on whether any customers or employees had been affected by the rodent infestation or whether any compensation or apology had been offered.
Customers react to the rat infestation and viral video
The rat infestation at the Kroger store became public after a TikTok user posted a video on December 23, 2022, showing a rat scurrying across whole turkeys in a refrigerated case. The video went viral and has been viewed more than 5.5 million times as of August 8, 2023.
The video shows an employee trying to trap the rat in a trash can while a song called “Who Want Smoke?” plays in the background. The TikTok user who posted the video captioned it “Kroger RATS” and added hashtags such as #dekalbcounty, #healthdepartment, #atlanta, and #kroger.
The video sparked outrage and disgust among many viewers who commented on the TikTok post. Some said they would never shop at Kroger again, while others joked about the rat inspecting the turkeys or working at the store. Some also compared Kroger unfavorably to its competitor Publix, which has a reputation for cleanliness and quality.
Some customers who shopped at the Kroger store before or after the incident said they were unaware of the rat problem or did not notice any signs of it. Some said they trusted Kroger to handle the situation properly and ensure food safety, while others said they were concerned about their health and would avoid buying meat or frozen products from the store.
Rat infestations pose health risks and challenges for grocery stores
Rat infestations are not uncommon in grocery stores, especially in urban areas where rodents can find food sources and hiding places. Rats can enter stores through cracks, holes, vents, pipes, or delivery trucks. They can also multiply quickly and adapt to different environments.
Rat infestations pose serious health risks for both customers and employees of grocery stores. Rats can carry more than 35 diseases that can be transmitted to humans directly or indirectly through contact with their feces, urine, saliva, or bites. Some of these diseases include leptospirosis, salmonellosis, hantavirus, plague, typhus, and rat-bite fever.
Rat infestations also pose challenges for grocery stores in terms of reputation, customer satisfaction, regulatory compliance, and financial losses. Grocery stores that have rat problems can face negative publicity, customer complaints, lawsuits, fines, closures, or reduced sales. Grocery stores that want to prevent or eliminate rat infestations need to implement effective pest management strategies that include sanitation, exclusion, monitoring, trapping, baiting, and professional assistance.
Category: Local News
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