Bay Area Whole Foods to reopen after rodent invasion kept it closed for months

"The Whole Foods store at 20955 Stevens Creek Blvd. passed its recent health inspection by the County of Santa Clara on Sept. 10, following a widespread rodent infestation in late April. The market, along with its deli and bakery, which had previously failed an inspection earlier this year, has been cleared of rodent activity, according to the latest health report reviewed by SFGATE. For now, the market remains closed but is expected to reopen on Sept. 29."

"The store has also undergone extensive updates and received new decor "to ensure an improved shopping experience" for customers, the spokesperson added. According to the Sept. 10 health inspection report, Whole Foods made several store changes to rodent-proof the space, including trimming exterior trees that formerly touched the building to prevent rodent entry. Gaps around pipes near the restrooms' hand-washing sinks have been fixed, while doors around the facility have gained rodent-proof door sweeps."

"The Whole Foods location has been closed since late April, but it had its first wave of rodent-related issues beginning in late March when health inspectors observed rodent droppings in the deli area and cockroaches, both dead and alive, near the dishwasher and under the sink in the bakery section. In early April, health inspectors revisited the facility in response to a complaint and observed rodent droppings around the bakery, deli and juice bar, which prompted them to suspend the food permits for those sections."

Whole Foods Market in Cupertino closed in late April after repeated inspection findings of rodent droppings and cockroaches in the deli and bakery areas. Inspectors first observed issues in late March and returned in early April, resulting in suspended food permits for the bakery, deli and juice bar and a full store closure on April 22 after additional droppings were found. The store passed a County of Santa Clara inspection on Sept. 10 following repairs and rodent-proofing measures including trimming exterior trees, sealing gaps around restroom pipes and installing rod-proof door sweeps. The location received extensive updates and new decor and is expected to reopen on Sept. 29.

Read at SFGATE