A convenience store in Cowes has been handed a 1-star food hygiene rating after inspectors found imported drinks that breached UK food laws, out-of-date salad leaves still on sale and cheese being stored at room temperature instead of in a refrigerator.
Simply Local, located opposite Henri Lloyd on High Street, received the rating following an unannounced inspection by Isle of Wight Council’s Environmental Health team on 26th June 2026, with the inspection report identifying a series of food hygiene and food safety issues requiring major improvement.
One of the most significant findings related to imported drinks on sale at the store. Inspectors found several Mountain Dew products containing a prohibited additive not permitted under UK legislation, while several other imported drinks either lacked English labelling or failed to meet UK food information requirements.
The report states the non-compliant drinks were voluntarily removed from sale during the inspection, with the prohibited Mountain Dew products disposed of at the premises. Environmental Health officers noted that similar issues involving imported food products had also been identified during the store’s previous routine inspection, warning that further breaches could lead to formal enforcement action.
Inspectors also discovered multiple bags of spinach, rocket and watercress that had exceeded their manufacturer’s use-by dates despite staff advising that daily stock checks were carried out.
Elsewhere, cheese slices labelled by the manufacturer as requiring refrigerated storage were found being kept at room temperature.
The inspection report also identified a number of additional issues requiring improvement.
Staff were unable to locate the probe thermometer after food containing meat had already been cooked that day, meaning no checks had been carried out to ensure the food had reached a safe temperature.
Inspectors found shortcomings in cleaning procedures, reporting that staff were unaware of the correct contact time for antibacterial spray and that the temperature probe was not being sanitised correctly between uses.
Concerns were also raised over allergen management after officers observed customers using the same tongs for different loose bakery products, creating a risk of cross-contamination.
The report highlighted deficiencies in handwashing facilities, stating there were no hygienic hand-drying materials available and that the kitchen lacked a dedicated handwash basin. A toilet was also found to open directly into a room used for food preparation, with officers requiring a lobby to be constructed within 6 weeks.
Inspectors additionally noted damaged wall surfaces, areas of disrepair around the kitchen sink and inadequate refuse storage.
Under the Food Standards Agency’s Food Hygiene Rating Scheme, a rating of 1 means ‘Major improvement necessary’.
Island Echo has approached Simply Local for comment.
Exactly what you expect from this kind of operation. The owners are just in it for the bucks and don’t care about customer safety. Use shops like this at your own risk.