Management at the Asda superstore in Mitchelston Industrial Estate, Kirkcaldy, has known about an infestation of rats for at least seven months, an employee of the supermarket claimed yesterday.
The employee, who spoke to The Courier on condition that their identity be withheld, said the rat problem was first reported to managers in the spring when they were seen outside at the compactor area of the warehouse.
Since then, the employee claims, there have been sightings on a daily basis. Traps have been laid using Maltesers chocolate as bait, he said.
But the employee claimed after a professional told the managers there was no problems, they removed all the traps, which allowed the problem to escalate.
The employee said: ”Rats are now seen in the warehouse climbing across racking which holds stock, running around the shop floor in all departments.
”They have been sighted in the ceiling above aisles where we are working. We have been told that this is pressure build-up in pipes.
”They have also been sighted in the chill back-up where we keep all our refrigerated items such as cheese, pies, sausage rolls and milk etc.
”At one point, they had to empty the back-up as the rats were taking over and eating everything.
”They then cleaned the back-up and starting using it again, still we are finding milk cartons and food items that have been gnawed on, but once again the managers just laugh and say ‘but we don’t have a rat problem’.”
The employee said the situation appears to be getting worse, adding: ”You can hear them running about in the walls in the warehouse or at the colleague entrance.
”Recently, we have also been told that if we are heard talking about rats, then we will be disciplined as we are showing the company in a negative image.”
The employee also claimed that security staff have been ordered to delete any rat images from CCTV footage claims denied by Asda.
As revealed by The Courier, there have been multiple reports of rats in recent weeks.
Supermarket bosses confirmed they had to temporarily close the in-store McDonald’s restaurant a fortnight ago following a sighting.
This came just days after the supermarket told The Courier there was ”no evidence” of rats in the supermarket.
The supermarket has since blamed recent heavy rain for flooding drains and pushing rats above ground.
A spokeswoman for Asda said: ”First and foremost, there is no ‘cover up’ of the recent issue with pests at the Kirkcaldy store.
”We take any report of pests incredibly seriously and have launched a full investigation with the local support services into what has happened in store.
”They are satisfied that we are taking the right course of action to deal with this situation.
”There has been no instruction to delete images of any rats nor any warnings of disciplinary action if colleagues talk about the issue.”
Lisa McCann, Fife Council lead officer, food and workplace safety, said environmental health officers have undertaken several visits to the premises after receiving a number of complaints.
During the visits, the officers inspected the external and internal areas of the premises for signs of rodent activity.
She added: ”The officers also discussed with the Asda store managers and their pest control contractor the controls in place and the further preventative measures being taken.
”From these discussions we are confident that the business is taking all reasonable steps. We are continuing to monitor the situation very closely and work with the businesses involved.”