Money Saving gone TOO far?

mudgekin

IMO if it has been reopened then it will be ok now. I would think that any risk would have been higher before it was closed down rather than now and you haven't been ill before, so the risk has got to be less now that the problem has been dealt with

katholicos

If it was closed down by the environmental health and standards agency you could always give them a call and ask them directly if the shop is now 'safe' to shop in. As a consumer though, i would be very wary of eating uncovered meat produce from there...and give the fruit and veg a REALLY good scrub when you get it home.

Caterina

There are rats everywhere, so an infestation is always very likely where food is stored.

As others have said, the difference is whether the shop closed because of a rat infestation, or if it was made to close because of a rat infestation that was ignored.

IMHO the important factor is the attitude of the store owner/manager and their approach to hygiene: if they were concerned about the rats being present and closed to have the issue sorted, I'd go back. But if they were nonchalant about the rats and got caught out by the H&S inspectors, then I would think again about going back to shop there!

Caterina

dannie

Thanks for all the replies. No, I was never ill eating anything from here. Apparently, it was after several visits before the "authorities" closed it down. There was evidence of the rats eating the raw meat! I did not know you could check the "safety" of a store by ringing the Environmental Health
Department.

I'd have to be extremely sure everything was thoroughly clean, so very reluctant to use this store again: then again I suppose there are food hygiene problems for places never shut down...

Penelope_Penguin

dannie wrote: »

A local store recently reopened after major hygiene problems (rats). Beforehand, they used to let me have free unwrapped fruit/veg and free (uncovered) butcher counter items! Would you ever feel the same about getting any free stuff from here?

We have an exisiting thread on OS taken too far, so I'll add this thread to keep ideas together

Penny. x

nesssie1702

Dannie

You'll find that a lot of Environmental Health Departments these days have their Food Hygiene inspection reports on-line, as part of the local authority website. Failing that, you could make a Freedom of Information request regarding the premises.....

Plus, was the shop closed down officially, in that a Prohibition Notice was served on it (an official notice would have been displayed in the shop window or door) or did they close the place voluntarily, on the baisis of the EHOs being involved?

Palm_Centro

I tend to look at the following.

FairyElephant_2

Olliebeak wrote: »

We used to do this for the school Christmas Fayre. Cut out useable-sized pictures, with pinking shears if possible. Punch a small hole in the side or corner and thread with a length of red/gree/gold embroidery thread.:D.

I've been doing this for years! My grandmother always used to, and it was a thing we did together a few weeks before Christmas each year. When she died I 'inherited' her pinking shears (must've be 40+ years old by then I reckon) and they were still going strong until last year, when I decided they were just too blunt and had to buy some new ones! I still have fond memories of her when I am making my Xmas tags though - she was my OS inspiration - Bless you Nanny!

I also cut up LY's cards to use in making this year's (although I have to send a lot, so end up buying some too - in Jan in the sales ready for next Xmas of course!!!). I hoard bits of ribbon, shiny stuff etc through the year, and white/coloured card to use as 'blanks' then mount combinations of my fave cutouts with 'trimmings' using glue, and 'sticky fixers' for a 3D effect. This year I was really lucky as work were throwing out a load of A5 envelopes where the sticky seals had dried out :eek: . Of course I gave them a 'home' and am using them for my cards, sealed with a Xmas cutout glued over the flap!

dannie

Thanks for the reply. Yes, the shop was "formally closed". I do remember seeing some kind of notice in the window; probably what you are describing.

angelatgraceland

dannie wrote: »

A local store recently reopened after major hygiene problems (rats). Beforehand, they used to let me have free unwrapped fruit/veg and free (uncovered) butcher counter items! Would you ever feel the same about getting any free stuff from here?

So what happens to windfall fruit in an orchard? No rats ever run over it? You don't know so you don't worry! The meat-well as long as it is thoroughly cooked I wouldnt worry on that either. The world has gone mad-what about the hams hanging? The flies alll over them? The meat in the butchers window or on the market stall?
When everyone learns to stop eating half raw meat they will stop getting ill and we may start to lose our fear of getting contaminated by the world around us.

Different note-rather than wrapping large presnts in paper for someone in same household, use a nice tablecloth or sheet or something with some ribbon. No waste whatsoever!