Manchester United’s Old Trafford stadium has had its food hygiene rating downgraded following the discovery of mouse droppings during an inspection in November. Although the droppings were not found in the kitchens themselves, the presence of rodents in other areas led the council’s environmental health officer to reduce the rating from a four (good) to a two (improvement necessary).
The club responded by assuring the public that a “robust pest-control system” is in place at Old Trafford, with multiple weekly checks conducted across all catering areas to prevent any such occurrences. They also emphasized that their pest-control team was immediately alerted when the droppings were found and that appropriate action was taken.
Trafford Council has confirmed that it is working closely with Manchester United to ensure that necessary improvements are made to maintain food hygiene standards. The Food Standards Agency rating system ranges from 0 (urgent improvement needed) to 5 (very good), and the downgrade reflects that the club’s food hygiene now requires some improvement.
Old Trafford serves approximately 250,000 visitors each season, with food prepared on-site for fans attending matches and events. Despite the downgrade, Manchester United has reassured the public that it remains committed to upholding high standards of food safety.
The timing of the downgrade coincides with ongoing discussions about the future of the club’s stadium. Manchester United is expected to reveal plans for a new stadium in the coming year, which could address some of the existing infrastructure issues, including food hygiene.
