The kitchen at a children’s nursery in Shellingford, near Faringdon was closed by food hygiene inspectors at Vale of White Horse District Council on Tuesday last week after they found a dead mouse on the kitchen floor.
The council made the discovery during a routine, unannounced food hygiene inspection at the Positive Steps Nursery on 16 May.
The inspectors also discovered rodent faeces on work surfaces and on the kitchen floor and in cupboards. They also noted a lack of routine cleaning and disinfection to minimise the risk of food contamination.
The business co-operated fully with the council to address the issues raised during the inspection. During a follow-up inspection on Friday 19 May, the council was satisfied that it no longer posed an imminent risk to health and lifted the prohibition notice, so the nursery can now use the kitchen to prepare food once again.
A spokesperson for the council, said: “Our inspectors felt the condition of the kitchen was posing an imminent risk to the health of the children and staff at the nursery. Children under five years of age are particularly at risk of infection as their immune systems are not yet fully developed. We’re pleased the nursery responded positively.”