The Kroger on Georgesville Square Drive in southwest Columbus reopened Thursday after closing Wednesday afternoon when a standard Columbus Public Health inspection found live and dead mice in the grocery store.
A report provided by Columbus Public Health shows an inspector found more than half a dozen dead mice, including one underneath the bread slicer in the bakery area, two in a trap box in the deli, several in trap boxes in aisles 13 and 16 and one in a back walkway near the bread storage area.
The inspector also found a live mouse in aisle 16 and two near the bread storage area.
The report states rodent droppings were found throughout the bakery, including on some food, and in the deli area. Rodent droppings and urine were found on food bags and shelves in aisles 13 and 16. Covered mouse traps had been set in those areas.
Multiple bags of chips and popcorn were gnawed open and had droppings inside. About four boxes of beef sirloin in the meat department walk-in cooler also contained packages that had been chewed open, according to the report.
In a statement, a Kroger spokesperson said the store underwent a thorough cleaning and follow-up inspection from Columbus health officials before reopening.
“We take the health and safety of our valued customers and associates seriously,” the statement said. "We apologize for the inconvenience and thank our customers for their patience."
