The case was called in the Dunedin District Court yesterday and the supermarket company, through its lawyer, admitted a charge of breaching the Food Act, which carries a maximum fine of $200,000.
In September New Zealand Food Safety deputy director-general Vincent Arbuckle said the charge related to a failure to ensure a significant rodent infestation was promptly identified and to take measures in accordance with its food control plan.
It came after Woolworths Dunedin South (formerly Countdown) was closed for 18 days in February last year following numerous sightings and captures of rodents.
Twenty-three rats were caught while it was closed.
Yesterday, a whistleblower and former employee of the rat-infested store, who wished to remain anonymous, said he was glad to see the company admitting some fault.
"It’s nice to see a bit of accountability," he said.
He thought something would have been done about the issue sooner.
"It wasn’t like some minor infestation. It really was quite severe," he said.
"When we were seeing bags and bags of stock go in the bin — like the amount of stuff that just went to waste was staggering over that period of time — I really thought something was going to be done a lot sooner than it was."
When the store was riddled with rodents last January, the then-employee said droppings, urine, chewed products and direct sightings of rats had all been reported.
Staff would work throughout the day and by the end of it find fresh droppings in previously clean areas.
At the time, staff had started to find dead rats, including underneath the children’s free fruit basket, he said.
He hoped if a similar issue arose, it would be taken seriously.
First Union regional organiser Angus Wilson said the plea would bring some closure for the community and the Woolworths Dunedin South team.
"They’ve taken it very seriously and the team have a lot of pride in their shop too, which is great," Mr Wilson said.
"I would say [it’s] one of if not the cleanest store in the country in terms of Woolworths."
He said the staff were much happier now and he hoped they and the community could move forward now the matter was settled.
Woolworths will be sentenced for the breach in March.
