RATS' droppings and gnawed food and packaging were discovered at The Range store in Taunton, a court has heard.

The company's owner, CDS (Superstores International) Ltd, has pleaded guilty to seven charges, including putting on sale food that was unfit for human consumption - before and after it was banned from selling food items.

Taunton Magistrates' Court heard that in 2022 The Range Home and Leisure, in Hankridge Way:

  • failed on June 10, on June 30, and on August 16, to control access by rats to areas used for the storage and display for sale of food for human consumption and failed to control feed and shelter available to rats or to clean and disinfect areas they had accessed;
  • by failing on June 10 to ensure food for human consumption was stored in a way to protect it from contact with rats, failed to protect the food from contamination, likely to render it "unfit for human consumption, injurious to health";
  • failed on August 16 by causing or permitting rat droppings, gnawed foods and food packaging to be present in areas used for the storage and display for sale of food for human consumption, to keep the food premises clean and maintained in good repair and condition ;
  • held on August 16 for the purpose of sale and offering for sale 'unsafe' food for human consumption which had been in contact with rats;
  • knowingly offered for sale on September 27 a Snickers protein pouch and two boxes of Choc Chip Protein Brownies.

READ MORE: Hygiene Emergency Prohibition Order served on The Range.

The last infringement was committed despite the public health manager at Somerset West and Taunton Council serving a prohibition order on The Range on August 16.

That was followed by Taunton Magistrates' Court imposing a Hygiene Emergency Prohibition Order, which was served on the company on September 8.

After The Range's guilty plea was entered last week, the case was adjourned to December 4 for sentencing.