CENTRAL STORE IN SANDOWN HAD TO CHUCK FOOD AWAY AFTER HYGIENE INSPECTION

A convenience store in Sandown had to throw away food after a hygiene inspection. Central Convenience Stores, on Perowne Way, has since been slapped with a 1-star food hygiene rating, meaning ‘major improvement’ is necessary. The store, near Fairway Holiday Park, was inspected in August but the report and its findings have only recently been published. Inspectors from the Isle of Wight Council saw high-risk foods including meat-filled pastries, cooked meats and sandwiches being stored in a display cabinet at 10c. They should not have been above 8c as any higher temperatures can allow food poisoning bacteria and mould to grow. The food was taken off display and disposed of at the time. Inspectors also highlighted that the store was failing to check whether the procedures it had in place to monitor the chilled display of high-risk foods were effective. Staff understood they needed to check the digital display of the chilled cabinets and if it was not below 5c report it to management. While that was suitable for the food at the rear of the cabinet, the inspector said it was not for the food at the front or middle of the shelves as they were significantly measured above the temperatures being displayed. Other checks to measure the chilled food’s temperature were not being carried out as the store had specified it would. Other areas of the report found the hygienic food handling of products to be generally satisfactory and the cleanliness and condition of the facilities to be very good. Central Conveniences has been contacted for comment.