Mouse droppings lay in close proximity to children’s toys on display at a B&M store in Birmingham – one of three sites where environmental health officers discovered rodent-gnawed foodstuffs and widespread infestations.
The discount retailer was fined £2m at Birmingham Magistrates’ Court on 13 July after pleading guilty to food hygiene offences prosecuted by Birmingham City Council. The case followed a series of complaints that triggered inspections between November 2024 and October 2025.
“B&M fined £2m after mouse droppings and gnawed food found at three Birmingham stores.”
At Priory Square Shopping Centre, a member of the public reported seeing a mouse in the shop. Officers found urine contamination from rodents on food packaging and shelving, inadequate cleaning standards and structural defects allowing pest entry. A Hygiene Emergency Prohibition Notice was served and the store closed immediately.
The Fort Shopping Park in Erdington was inspected on 27 October 2025 after a complaint alleging a mouse infestation. Officers found widespread evidence of mouse activity throughout the premises, including droppings “in close proximity to children’s toys on display”. The store was also closed due to the risks posed to public health.
St Andrew’s Retail Park had been the first site visited, on 11 November 2024, following reports of pests. Significant evidence of mouse activity led to another Hygiene Emergency Prohibition Notice.
B&M said it was “deeply sorry for the failings identified” and had taken comprehensive action to “strengthen controls across our business”. The company was ordered to pay prosecution costs of £18,104 and a £2,000 victim surcharge, with the fine and costs due within 28 days.
Councillor Sam Forsyth, chair of the Licensing and Public Protection Committee, said: “Residents rightly expect businesses operating in Birmingham to maintain high standards and provide safe environments for customers.” She called the conditions “unacceptable and required immediate intervention to protect the public”, adding that the “substantial court penalty reflects the seriousness of the offences and sends a clear message that businesses must take their responsibilities seriously.”