Rats at the chips, urine smell at the olive oils.
The Willys store in Botkyrka has extensive problems with mice or rats, reports News Agency Siren.
Now the grocery store risks having to pay a fine of 100,000 kroner – on an ongoing basis – if they do not solve the problems.
In March this year, a visitor to Willys in Botkyrka reported that there were rats or mice near the chip shelves.
When the food inspectorate made a control visit to the store a couple of days after the report, they discovered rat droppings both on the chips and on the oils.
It then emerged that the store had problems with pests since January 2025 and that a pest control company had been involved.
But despite the measures, the problems have continued. In July, the environmental and health protection board made a follow-up check, but then droppings from mice and/or rats were again found near the olive oil and in a separate room with a door facing the corridor to the goods reception.
SEK 100,000 on each occasion
Two months later, in September, droppings were again found in the same place as last time. Then there was also the smell of urine from the corner of the shop by the oil.
Now the Environmental and Health Protection Board issues an order for a fine.
Every time the environmental and health protection board finds new traces of pests in the store, Willys will have to pay SEK 100,000.
The board emphasizes that it takes a serious view of the persistent problems in a food plant: “Pests can contaminate food that consumers then eat, which can pose a health risk,” the decision says.
For Stefan Holmqvist, store manager at Willys, the decision came as a surprise.
– We have really taken this seriously. We have worked with an external pest company, we have new routines and the property owner has sealed the property. For our part, the case is settled, so we were really surprised when we actually received this message.
He feels safe with the measures and welcomes the inspectors to make return visits.
– We have replied to them that ‘you are very welcome to come out and do an inspection’ and see that there are no more problems.
