Investigation in to Asda’s delivery vans finds shopping covered in mould and MAGGOTS
A customer showed BBC Watchdog the maggots she found in a cat food box from one Asda delivery
ASDA has been forced to apologise to customers after an investigation revealed shockingly poor hygiene levels in some of the vans it uses to deliver food.
Tests of bacteria levels on a crate from ten different deliveries, undertaken by a Government-accredited microbiology laboratory for BBC Watchdog found three were had "equivalent to dirt levels of a kitchen floor".
A further two were "extremely dirty, which equates to the dirt levels of a kitchen bin".
The conditions are so bad that one whistleblower told the programme he wore gloves at work because of his concerns about catching something from the dirt.
A second anonymous employee sent photos of mould and squashed fruit on crates used to deliver food to nurseries and nursing homes.
Watchdog said it carried out the probe after receiving several complaints from members of the public and whistleblowers.
The programme, which will be broadcast on BBC One at 8pm tonight, will also show how one customers found maggots in a cat food box from one Asda delivery.
In a response to the Watchdog investigation, Asda admitted it had fallen short of the standards expected by customers.
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As part of the investigation, Watchdog sent an undercover reporter to work as a driver for one Asda store.
Undercover video footage shows a manager saying that the only process in place to clean the dirty delivery crates at this store was a broken hose.
Watchdog presenter Sophie Raworth met with hygiene expert, Dr Lisa Ackerley, to find out the health implications dirty deliveries could have on customers.
She discusses the importance of separation of goods, particularly raw meat and fresh unwrapped food, to avoid falling victim bacteria related illnesses.
With more consumers shopping online for goods, the demand for home deliveries has rapidly increased but this is no excuse for large retailers jeopardising customers’ health by taking shortcuts
Sophie Raworth, Watchdog presenter
The grocer said it had taken action including the deep cleaning of every home shopping van and re-briefings for every Asda employee on cleaning and food safety rules.
It has also introduced deep cleaning for all delivery crates in all stores.
An Asda spokesman said: "Our customers expect and deserve the highest standard of service.
"We haven't lived up to this but our customers can trust us to take complaints seriously and do the right thing to resolve them.
"Although some of our policies and procedures have not been followed in these six stores, we have taken immediate action to permanently improve standards across all our home shopping services."
Ms Raworth said: "With more consumers shopping online for goods, the demand for home deliveries has rapidly increased but this is no excuse for large retailers jeopardising customers’ health by taking shortcuts.
"We are very grateful for the whistle blowers and viewers coming forward and trusting the Watchdog team with their concerns.
"The lengthy investigation proved successful and I’m delighted Asda is taking the appropriate steps to rectify this alarming issue."
Have you ever spotted a dirty Asda delivery? Do you have a supermarket story to share. Email us at tara.evans@the-sun.co.uk
