Whole Foods in Lincoln Park closed by city

From The Stew, the Chicago Tribune's food blog:

Renee Enna, The Stew, July 10, 2008 wrote:The [Whole Foods] store, at 1000 W. North Ave, was closed Wednesday by the Chicago Department of Public Health after inspectors found mouse feces throughout the premises, including more than 100 droppings in one walk-in cooler alone, according to the department. Also found was a dead mouse on a glueboard trap.

Wednesday's visit was a follow-up to an inspection on June 27, when inspectors ordered management to eliminate the infestation and warned that there would be a re-inspection, according to Tim Hadac, the department's spokesman.

On Wednesday, inspectors found "no compliance," which automatically raises the violation from “serious” to “critical,” which prompted the closing, Hadac said.

I'm not unrealistic about how hard it is to prevent incidents like this in the food industry but what concerns me is the part about this being a follow up to a previous inspection and that the city found "no compliance" on their second visit. For all the preachiness that WF has been known for over the past few years (especially as it pertains to foie gras, lobsters, etc.), it seems pretty incongruous that this type of basic housekeeping seems to have been ignored.

Does Whole Foods respect animals that yield food more than their customers? Incidents like this certainly make it appear so.

Mice, supermarkets and food safety

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I can't top my friend's response;

So you mean some poor bastard had to COUNT that shit?!

And if not, does that mean that he's gotten good enough at looking at dookie clusters that he/she can do a "Rainman" on it, "... ::rocking back and forth:: ... yeah, def-definitely 107 pieces - 107 pieces of poo. Rat and mouse poo

It seems to be a running theme in their stores. If i recall the store at Ashland and school was closed for the same reasons for a couple of days a few years back. Maybe mice prefer overpriced organics.

I suppose rat poison isn't really organic or pesticide free...

At least they can say that they were infiltrated by cage free rats.

YourPalWill wrote:At least they can say that they were infiltrated by cage free rats.

Free Range Rodents. I like that.

I have a butcher friend who works there - he was at work all day today even though they're closed. They have most of the prepared / cold foods staff, a rodent control team, and assorted managers, furiously cleaning. He mentioned that they're moving in a few months to a bigger and less-infested location. Apparently this has been a recurring issue for many businesses in that enclave due to the ancient understructure of that block. He stressed to me that no feces or rodents have ever been found in or near sold / prepared foods, only in disposal / discard areas, and that they have always been hyper-vigilant, just fighting a ridiculous setup to start with. Take all of this with a grain of salt; secondhand report.

YourPalWill wrote:It seems to be a running theme in their stores. If i recall the store at Ashland and school was closed for the same reasons for a couple of days a few years back. Maybe mice prefer overpriced organics.

The one at Ashland became infested after a mechanical failure in their trash compactor, iirc.

I remember the city more or less saying that they'd "moved heaven and earth" to resolve the problem and they were open the following day.

You're right, Pete. I do remember them getting the clearance to reopen one day later back then.

good to see rats are buying into the whole organic, greenie movement.

My friends and I were laughing at the situation last night by imagining the rats really enjoying the best quality cheeses perhaps with some grapes a la the Pixar's Ratatouille.

And, yes the other joke was that maybe those new organic mouse traps weren't working so hot.

apparently, whole foods failed their inspection that they requested this morning and will remained closed for now.

abolt wrote:apparently, whole foods failed their inspection that they requested this morning and will remained closed for now.

Here's a follow-up from the July 11 edition of the Chicago Tribune:

Mike Hughlett, Chicago Tribune wrote:A Lincoln Park Whole Foods supermarket remained closed Friday after city health inspectors once again found mouse droppings, as well as a dead mouse in a trap beneath a cooler.

The supermarket at 1100 W. North Ave. was closed Wednesday after inspectors from the Chicago Department of Public Health found mouse feces and a dead mouse in a trap. The store was expected to reopen Friday but will remained closed until Whole Foods corrects the mouse problem and passes a reinspection, the city said.

When inspectors re-examined the store Friday, they found that it "clearly still has an infestation," said Tim Hadac, a Health Department spokesman. "Their failure surprised and disappointed us."

Grocery store to remain shuttered

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From the July 13 edition of the Chicago Tribune:

Chicago Tribune staff report wrote:A Whole Foods grocery store in Lincoln Park reopened Saturday afternoon after failing two health inspections over three days because of what city inspectors called a rodent infestation.

Lincoln Park's Whole Foods store reopens

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However, Generalissimo Fransisco Franco is still dead!

Was it locally sourced rat feces?

AngrySarah wrote:Was it locally sourced rat feces?

They produce it right in the store!

When the Jewel Food store was demolished behind us everyone up and down the block, residents included, had a horrible time. Our health inspector was well aware of the situation and was very understanding, we were super vigillant and took care of the situation. My daughter even said a prayer for us at the Catholic school she was attending, unfortunately it was a "daily intention" that was broadcast over the intercom. One of the teachers called us later that day, what an innocent and well meaning near disaterous PR move!

When the Dominicks on Broadway burned to the ground a few summers back on a sunny Sunday afternoon. The throng who had gathered to watch was nearly overrun by fleeing rodents.

Oh, that is a horrible image, I'm glad I wasn't there. My soon-to-be-spouse lived a couple of doors down from there at the time (above a flower shop I've forgotten the name of). Thankfully we were at my place that weekend, so we didn't have to see all the fleeing rodents. Ick. Ick, ick, ick.

More on Whole Foods beef recall:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/co ... id=topnews