Shoppers were shocked when they saw two ravenous rats clambering over fresh pastries in a London Sainsbury’s.
In footage captured by Anthony Mitson, two rats are seen scurrying over croissants before running back up the metal rack to hide behind a fridge containing milk and juice.
The video was filmed at the Sainsbury’s on Essex Road in Islington.
The store is temporarily closed for deep cleaning, a Sainsbury’s spokesperson told indy100.
The spokesperson said: “We have strict processes in place to deter pests. Our Essex Road store is temporarily closed for deep cleaning and to help pest control investigate this sighting and introduce additional preventative measures.
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“We’re sorry for the inconvenience this will cause our customers and we will reopen as soon as we can.”
The video has gone viral on social media and has been reshared widely across Twitter, Instagram, and neighbourhood forums such as NextDoor.
Some said they were disgusted by the video, with others saying this is the reason pastries should be covered in stores:
this video is a perfect example of why supermarkets need to stop selling pastry out in the open like this. It's not just the rats it's the flies too.. @sainsburys @Tesco
— Name cannot be blank (@DeeAngelool) October 3, 2021
😮OH MY GOD RATS!
— Colin McFarlane (@colinmcfarlane) October 3, 2021
If anyone follows me in the Hackney/Islington area this video was posted 2 hours ago showing RATS amid the bread in @sainsburys on Essex Rd!! I hope the management have been informed @SainsburysNews This was via⬇️
From my neighbourhood: https://t.co/MyZqb01Zzt
I can’t believe that video of those rats in sainsburys
— 🫂 (@elemjx) October 3, 2021
I never buy food that's out on display without packaging but WHAT IS GOING ON @sainsburys ??? 🤢🤢🤢🤢🤢🤢🤢🐀🐀🐀🐀🐀 pic.twitter.com/jefYVplBwf
— Mel (@MelChayse) October 3, 2021
Not us going through a low key food shortage and now we’re going to have to fight rats for croissant 🥐 😩🤢🥴 @sainsburys sort it out!
— JustGretaKaviya 𓃭 (@gretakaviya) October 3, 2021
Some could see the funny side of the incident (although we assume this is because the Essex Road store isn’t their local shop):
— 🌸🌸🐞Tracy prev. @Tracy01316918🌸🌸🐝🇿🇦 (@TreloarTracy) October 3, 2021
Sainsburys rat infestation #sainsburys pic.twitter.com/meLMMV10yG
— Always1aye (@always1aye) October 4, 2021
That’s me NEVER buying pastries from @sainsburys ever again…@SainsburysNews do you have names for these two rats yet? https://t.co/3AbISTFQXt
— Richie Barlow #Woke #FBPE 🏴🏳️🌈🇪🇺 (@The_DogWalker) October 3, 2021
Over lockdown, these whiskered critters have been getting more and more comfortable letting themselves into our homes and businesses.
Spoilt for choice after having the run of the streets during the pandemic, they have clearly developed more refined palates and are no longer content ripping into bin bags. By the looks of the video, this particular family of rats are content with croissants and didn’t bother making their way to the cereal aisle to get their paws on the Mice Krispies.
