Lidl supermarket in Ixelles shut down due to vermin

An Ixelles branch of discount supermarket chain Lidl has been forced to close after droppings from vermin were found in the store.

The federal agency for food chain safety, Afsca, ordered the Lidl on Rue Gray to close last week.

"We consider [the presence of rodents] to be an immediate and serious danger to the consumer, because they can transmit diseases," an Afsca spokeswoman said.

The store has had its licence to sell food products withdrawn and the supermarket has been closed to the public since 10 April.

The spokeswoman added that, once the vermin problem has been resolved, "the store can apply for a new permit and can then possibly open again after we have carried out another inspection".

Lidl said it was taking the necessary steps ahead of submitting a new application to sell food.

"Renovation work had been planned at the store in Ixelles anyway, with the building being completely redesigned," a Lidl spokeswoman said. "Afsca's findings have now accelerated those plans.

"We also plan to carry out additional cleaning, then we will submit a new application to be allowed to open again."