The discovery of a rodent dropping in a package of baked goods has prompted the closure of a grocery store on Record Street in Moncton.

Public health officials arrived to inspect the Consumers Community Co-operative on Tuesday after receiving a complaint from a customer of mouse droppings spotted in the store.

Inspectors went through the Co-op aisle-by-aisle during the investigation on Tuesday, said Dr. Denis Allard, medical officer of Health Region 1.

"Some aisles were fairly clean but we did find some others where there was evidence of rodents having been there," Allard said.

Droppings, which appeared to be from field mice, were found and packaging and labels had also been chewed on, he said.

Consuming produce and baked goods purchased from the grocery section of the Co-op may cause minor illness but is not a major health crisis, Allard said.

"I think it's more of a repulsive type of attitude or esthetic problem now with consumers who might have bought some of the vegetables and fruits that were unprotected, that were not covered, as well as some of the breads," Allard said.

People should dispose of any of the goods purchased at the store and contact the store directly if they'd like a refund, he said.

The grocery section of the store and its food court are closed to the public and are expected to remain that way for several days.

The store is being cleaned in its entirety and all goods from the bakery and produce section are being destroyed. More than 20 pest control workers are also sanitizing the area and eliminating the rodents.

"You do what you've got to do," said Robert Lemoine, vice-president of food services for Co-op Atlantic. "I mean the first priority here is the public safety and that's what we recognize right out of the gate and that's why we've taken the action that we have."

The store will be allowed to reopen from its voluntary closure after it has been thoroughly cleaned and restocked, Allard said.

'Perfect target'

The Health Department will also be closely monitoring the store when it does reopen its doors.

The bottom floor of the store, which contains furniture, is still open to the public.

Lemoine said the store had been dealing with a small rodent infestation for about two weeks prior to the health officials being called in. Store officials thought the problem had cleared up, he said.

The cold weather can send small field mice looking for a warmer place and food, Lemoine said.

"A food store of any kind is a perfect target for that."

The store was last inspected by the Health Department in October, Allard said. At the time, there were no traces of problematic rodent activity.