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Emergency court action to halt Walsoken butchery after inspection finds mouse infestation




A Walsoken butchery has been ordered to stop operating due to a "significant mouse infestation".

Maipop Farm Butchery in Biggs Road was found to have mouse droppings over food products and packaging during a visit by environmental health officers on Wednesday, January 8.

King's Lynn and West Norfolk Borough Council environmental health officers seized meat and packaging and immediately served a prohibition notice to stop the business operating. At King's Lynn Magistrates' Court on Thursday, an application by the council for a Hygiene Emergency Prohibition Order and two food condemnation orders were granted.

Maipop Farm Walsoken. (26886437)
Maipop Farm Walsoken. (26886437)

No one from the business, which operates under Stratton Farms UK Ltd, of Back Road, Friday Bridge, was at the hearing.

Danielle Barrett, senior environmental health officer for the council, told the court that she attended the property for the inspection with colleague Kevin Moore.

She was told that the butcher was out on delivery rounds but that he had been contacted, consented to the inspection going ahead and would be back soon.

Maipop Farm Walsoken. (26886446)
Maipop Farm Walsoken. (26886446)

Mrs Barrett said: "It was quite quickly evident that there was a significant mouse infestation. Kevin continued to look around the premises. I got the number of the butcher and told him to stop delivering and come back to the farm.

"Once he arrived we explained our findings, we would be closing the premises and he needed to get back any food deliveries made that day."

Mrs Barrett told the hearing that mouse droppings and urine were found on equipment, on the floor, on string used to tie meat and black trays used as packaging.

Maipop Farm Walsoken. (26886447)
Maipop Farm Walsoken. (26886447)

"We came to the conclusion it presented a significant health risk," she added.

The food condemnation orders cover the destruction of all raw and frozen meat products and packaging seized by the officers.



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