22-05-2025
Manchester United handed yet ANOTHER blow after what was found at Old Trafford
Manchester United's miserable season shows no sign of ending any time soon - after the Reds lost their Europa League final against Tottenham Hotspur last night, it emerged that the club has been handed another two-star food hygiene rating after yet more mouse droppings were found at Old Trafford.
The Food Standards Agency has handed the club an improvement notice after inspectors found cleanliness at the club was lacking, with dirty glasses and mouse droppings and concerns about opened food products being kept for too long.
The rating follows an inspection in November which saw the club's rating downgraded from four to two, again following the discovery of mouse droppings. The club's standards of cleanliness have been under scrutiny since its food hygiene rating slashed from a five to a one star after hosting a health and safety event in November 2023 when raw chicken thighs were served to 30 people. Inspectors ruled at the time the food served was 'unfit for human consumption'.
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More than 250,000 people dine at the stadium's restaurants each season, with 29 kitchens and catering facilities operated from the site.
A new report by Trafford Council inspectors following a visit on April 16 has heaped more criticism on the club. Mouse droppings were found behind seating in the Manchester Suit, under equipment in Devil's bar, in kiosks in two areas of the the north east quadrant, in a cupboard in the International Suit, under a buffet counter in Number 7 Suit and in the 'goods received' office, according to the report.
The report ordered the club to: "Ensure areas where droppings are present are thoroughly cleaned and disinfected. You should continue to work with your pest control provider to take necessary actions."
It also ordered more 'proofing' works to kitchen doors in Number 7 Suit and holes for utilities to Devil's bar as well as the external doors to the 'goods received' office after the inspectors found a strip had broken off.
The report also recommended 'pest proofing' works at utilities holes at Devil's bar where droppings were found and also in the Manchester Suit as a 'large amount of droppings were found' in a room used to store tables close to food areas.
The droppings found in the Manchester Suit were 'not fresh' but the report recommended the use of a vacuum cleaner to remove droppings rather than a brush as old droppings stuck in the hairs could be deposited while cleaning, said the report.
The standard of cleaning in the Ambassador Suit required improvement because inspectors found 'food debris, grease and discarded cling film', said the report. A plate stacker in the suit was 'dirty'.
The standard of cleaning in the Manchester Suit also 'requires improvement' because inspectors found 'dirt build up on surfaces where drinks lines run'. A 'deep clean' of the bars in the suit was required while the inside of fridges at one of the bars was 'dirty' which 'resulted in a build-up of detritus on glasses being stored within it', said the report.
Inspectors also found 'some dirt build-up at low level areas in the walk-in freezer and large blast chiller' in a kitchen while 'dirt build-up' was found on sliding doors to a fridge in kiosks in two areas of the eastern side of the ground, according to the report.
Club staff were unaware a tripped fuse had caused a lack of hot running water at a basin in the 'goods received' office while there was no soap at another basin in the Red Cafe, said the report, which ordered the club to have 'soap available for use at all times' at basins in the ground.
Inspectors also found a container of pesto in a fridge at the Red Cafe had a '1 month' label attached to it even though the manufacturer recommended it should be used within eight days. A container of dressing also had a 1 month label attached even though the manufacturer said the product should be used within four weeks.
The inspectors ordered the club to ensure staff were applying the correct shelf life to products 'as per manufacturer's instructions'.
A Manchester United spokesperson said: "Manchester United implements a robust pest-control system throughout Old Trafford.
"Multiple weekly checks are made in all catering areas and stringent measures are taken to ensure levels of hygiene and cleanliness are high wherever food is stored, prepared and served.
"If incidences of this nature do occur at the stadium, immediate and appropriate action is taken."
