A complaint about a rat in the grocery section of the Walmart store in Martinez led Contra Costa Environmental Health officials to temporarily suspend food sales at the store following an inspection on June 4. According to an investigation report, a complainant alleged that a rat jumped from a grocery aisle shelf onto food products. During the inspection, health officials found evidence of rodent activity in multiple food aisles, including dozens of rodent droppings, signs of urine contamination, and chewed packaging. Inspectors reported finding approximately 30 to 40 rodent droppings in a beverage aisle, along with a sticky liquid buildup and a mild urine odor. Additional droppings were discovered in a popcorn aisle, and a damaged six-pack beverage package showed signs of rodent chewing.
The report also noted that pest control records reviewed during the inspection documented rat activity inside the store in May, including a rat that had been caught in a trap. Due to what officials described as a significant amount of rodent activity in food areas, Contra Costa Environmental Health ordered an immediate suspension of food sales and required the store to block off food sections from customers. The remainder of the store was not ordered closed.
The store has been reinspected, and food sales have since resumed.
All local grocery stores have a rat problem.
According to a relative in the business this is due to vendors who leave doors open when they deliver goods and leave them open when they leave.
True, but also store employees who leave the delivery doors open. I know of one particular local grocery store which has a double delivery pit, allowing the store to keep a trailer backed into one pit for extra storage, but it also leaves plenty of gaps for rats to enter the store. Had I not been working behind this store to witness it myself I never would’ve known. I also know someone who installed new checkout equipment at local grocery stores who told me many stores have rat droppings/feces inside the checkstands.