A video showing a rat climbing out of a loaf of bread has resulted in an Irish petrol station being closed.
The rodent can be seen crawling out from the loaf and onto a pile of plastic lids before disappearing behind an oven.
The incident was recorded at an Applegreen garage on Ballyfermot Road in Dublin on Wednesday and bosses shut the store immediately to investigate.
Signs were put up outside citing a "technical issue" and staff remained in the store despite customers not being allowed to enter
An Applegreen spokeswoman later confirmed the closure was due to a "pest control issue".
She said: “Our Cherry Orchard site has been temporarily closed following a pest control issue.
"We are conducting a full investigation into the incident, which falls well below our high operating standards.
"The health and safety of our customers is our first priority and we are taking this issue extremely seriously.”
The company's Environmental Health Office visited and deep clean and inspection was carried out through Thursday.
The Food Standards Authority told Dublin Live they're aware of the footage and have referred it to the HSE who are investigating.
No official food closure order was served on the garage with bosses taking it upon themselves to shut.
A HSE spokesperson said: "The HSE Environmental Health Service can confirm that it has received complaints in relation to a video on social media depicting a rat in a food business.
"We take all complaints very seriously. An inspection has taken place and the matter is being fully investigated."
Another shop owner described the incident as "a worst nightmare" but said they won't rush to judgement as "it could just be a case of bad luck".
He said: "We don't know the exact circumstances yet - it could be a case of bad luck if it just wandered in through the front door.
"Winter is coming in and they look to go indoors, and something like that could happen to anyone's shop.
"If that's the case you'd feel very sorry for them. So I won't rush to judge"
It's not the first Dublin business to experience issues with rodents in the last month.
On 21st August popular Donnybrook restaurant was ordered to close by the FSA after a live mouse was found in its kitchen.
The Greenery, at 3 Eirpage House in Donnybrook, Dublin 4, was ordered shut by an inspector with a report describing the premises as a "grave an immediate danger to food safety".
The busy restaurant was served with the order after "a live mouse was find in the kitchen" where food that was "ready to eat" was being stored and prepared.
Advice
To avoid attracting rodents into your business or home, follow these simple tips:
- Keep foodstuffs in metal or glass containers with tight fitting lids.
- Tidy inside the house and around the garden - less clutter means less places to hide.
- Put outdoor rubbish bags in metal bins with securely fitted lids to stop them feeding on the contents.
- Clean up pet food and bird seed debris, and store pet food in robust containers with fitted lids, preferably above ground level.
- Keep gardens free from debris - If you have a compost heap, don’t include organic food waste, as this will attract them.
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