Heat in Old Colwyn supermarket leaves shoppers faint

Jun 24 2010 by Richard Evans, North Wales Weekly News

A SUPERMARKET involved in a noisy fridge row has been slammed for being sweltering hot.

Shoppers have complained they are feeling faint as they shop in the Aldi store in Old Colwyn – with some claiming they have bought food that is well past its best because of the conditions.

Bosses hope to have the issue fixed in the next few days with new temperate controls in place.

The store has removed its refrigeration plant after complaints of noise from neighbours on Bodelwyddan Avenue and Aldi has submitted a planning application for a new equipment to be installed, although is has not been confirmed if this is a contributing factor behind the over heating of the store.

Several customers yesterday left the store feeling unwell and dizzy and hot shoppers feared the store and its food is an environmental health hazard.

Complaints about food have been made to the council, who have said despite the conditions, food safety conditions are being met.

One shopper bought a quiche two days before the sell by date that turned out to have mould on the surface, but said other products bought from the store had been fine.

Derek Davidson is retired and lives in Upper Colwyn Bay and complained: “I went down to Aldi this morning and it was very hot,” he said.

“I picked up a chocolate bar which disintegrated in my hand.

“I felt dizzy and an elderly person could quite easily have felt faint.”

Joyce Tice, 71, from Tan Lan agreed: “It is a health hazard. I had to leave my husband in there it’s so hot – I would have passed out.”

Joan Flaherty, 67, from Old Colwyn said: “It is bad enough for us, but it is terrible for the staff it has never been that hot before.”

Ken Fisher, 74, from Tal-y-Bont added: “I’ve just come out as I couldn’t breathe – the heat hits you straight away when you walk in. I wouldn’t go in there again.”

Another customer quipped: “I’ve walked through the streets of Old Delhi and it’s hotter in Aldi.”

Conwy County Borough Council is responsible for enforcing both food safety and health and safety and said representatives had visited the store and were satisfied food was being kept properly.

A council spokeswoman commented: “We have visited the store in response to a customer complaint about the warm conditions inside this supermarket.

“From a food safety perspective, the handling and storage and display of high risk food products are in accordance with current food safety requirements.

“We have received a complaint regarding soft chocolate confectionery products on sale at the store. These products are, however, not required by law to be temperature controlled, but the company is aware of and is managing this issue by limiting the amount of stock at any one time that is on display.

“With regard to the health and safety implications.

“We are working with the management at Aldi to resolve this issue quickly and to limit the effects primarily on the staff who work at Old Colwyn and also on the customers who shop at the store.

“The company are currently installing fans on-site. We will continue to monitor the conditions at the store in order to safeguard the workers welfare and ensure there is no risk to public health.”

An Aldi spokesperson commented: “We are aware of the temperature issue in our Old Colwyn store and the problem will be rectified in the next couple of days.”