A mouse problem was uncovered at an Oxford fast-food outlet before officials shut it down.

Public health inspectors found a dead mouse in the back storage section of Peppers Burgers on Walton Street in Jericho.

Ryan Cobb, the senior food safety officer at Oxford City Council, stated the burger shop presented an immediate threat to public health based on what was discovered during the examination.

The establishment, once considered a must-visit for those new to Oxford, was issued a closure notice on March 31.

The venue functioned as a burger restaurant.

In his official report, Mr Cobb described obvious evidence of a serious mouse infestation present throughout the premises. One dead mouse was discovered behind a standing freezer in the food storage room next to the kitchen. Large amounts of mouse droppings were found in the kitchen, rear storage rooms and the toilet hallway. Gaps big enough for pests to pass through were visible around pipework, skirting boards and through the kitchen floor leading to the basement. In the kitchen area, rodent feces were located under sinks, close to the pizza oven and on counters used for storing paper products for wrapping food. In storage spaces, significant quantities of mouse waste were found underneath machinery and refrigerator units. The business owners were unable to provide any food safety procedures, paperwork or evidence of professional pest control services.

During a 2024 assessment, Food Standards Agency reviewers gave the venue a score of one out of five for overall compliance, which officials deemed as requiring significant improvement.

Examiners observed that considerable improvements to oversight and checking procedures were required to ensure the safety of food sold or served.

The takeaway was also required to show that staff had sufficient food safety understanding and that the food safety officer could be assured standards would be maintained going forward.

Mr Cobb noted that no food-quality cleaning or sanitising products were available on site to remove dangerous bacteria carried by mice. He explained there is an immediate risk of contamination affecting food items, packaging, work surfaces and kitchen equipment, which could reasonably result in food poisoning and spread various infectious illnesses.

Peppers Burgers had received positive reviews on Google, holding an overall score of 4.8 stars.

Neil Misra wrote a review just seven days earlier describing excellent plant-based burgers and a fantastic selection of customisable sauces as impressive, with enjoyable Oxford-themed decorations displayed on the interior walls.

However, roughly nine months prior, a reviewer named Rebecca Calu described ordering a vegetarian burger and suffering from food poisoning, warning others in her comments.