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Kelly Liu

A viral photo of a small mouse scampering near cooked meals sold at a Hong Kong supermarket has triggered larger concerns about hygiene and food safety in the city’s grocery stores.
The rodent was found by a shopper at a Taste supermarket’s cooked-food counter in Tuen Mun, according to reports, and she was so taken aback that she posted a snap of it on Facebook on Saturday.
The mouse, with brown fur and a long tail, was seen crouched on the edge of open containers with vegetables and grilled pork.
The post, attributed to a user named Nicole Yip, went viral after it landed on community Facebook page Tuen Mun Good Life. As of this posting, the photo had been shared more than 2,300 times.
While others dubbed the incident as “Mickey Mouse on vacation”, many Facebook users expressed disgust and anxiety over hygiene in the city. Some users vowed never to eat meals from supermarket food stalls again.
Some users alleged they had previously seen cockroaches and rotting fruit at the same supermarket chain.
"This just makes me want to vomit," one Facebook user said. Another claimed: "I've seen [the rat] several times before. It just walks back and forth around the kitchen door but no one notices it."
Taste's public relations department told the Post that it was aware of the Facebook post and is "very concerned about it".
"However, we have not received related complaint at the moment. We are following up the case and hope that the customer could contact us," the company said.
"Hygiene is our top priority. The store has regular cleaning and our Quality Assurance team inspects the store regularly. We also appoint pest control professionals to conduct regular pest control in store," it added.
This is not the first time the city has dealt with food safety scares.
In May earlier this year, a mouse was discovered in a fridge alongside many cold drinks in a convenience store.
And in March, a seasoned chef got a nasty surprise when he cut into a piece of prime pork only to discover a thumb-sized pus-filled cyst which exploded in his face.


Ratted out: mouse pictured dangling off Hong Kong supermarket’s deli counter sparks hygiene concerns

Mouse on the menu? The rodent was found by a shopper at a supermarket's cooked-food counter in Tuen Mun and a photo of it was promptly posted on social media, sparking concerns about food safety. Photo: Facebook

Mouse on the menu? The rodent was found by a shopper at a supermarket’s cooked-food counter in Tuen Mun and a photo of it was promptly posted on social media, sparking concerns about food safety. Photo: Facebook

A mouse was discovered in a fridge alongside many cold drinks in a convenience store in May.

Nasty surprise for seasoned chef as rancid meat ‘explodes in his face’

The rancid meat was purchased in Wellcome, Shau Kei Wan. Photo: Edmond So

Hong Kong moves to block repeat of ‘gutter oil’ scandal with new legislation

Food and health secretary Dr Ko Wing-man and Acting Secretary for the Environment Christine Loh Kung-wai announce a consultation into new regulation licensing the quality of edible fats and oil in the city. Photo: David Wong

A restaurant worker ladles cooking oil. New regulations governing its use are aimed at avoiding another 'gutter oil' scandal. Photo: Sam Tsang

Food and health secretary Dr Ko Wing-man announced a consultation into new regulation licensing the quality of edible fats and oil in the city. Photo: Xinhua

Police officers search Po Yuen Lard Company in Yuen Long in September, 2014. The company was suspected of having supplied lard oil for industrial use, passing it off as fit for human consumption. Photo: K.Y. Cheng

Taiwan food company boss jailed for 20 years over ‘gutter oil’ scandal

Yeh Wen-hsiang, chairman of Chang Guann, who has been jailed for 20 years over the 'gutter oil' scandal, made a public apology and drank a cup of his company's cooking oil at the height of the scandal to prove it was safe. Photo: CNA

Yeh Wen-hsiang, chairman of Chang Guann, drinks a cup of his company's cooking oil at the height of the scandal last September  to prove it was safe. Photo: CNA

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Hong Kong

Health & Environment

Update | Ratted out: mouse pictured dangling off Hong Kong supermarket’s deli counter sparks hygiene concerns