Woolworths Investigates Maggots Found in Raw Chicken at Joburg Bel Air Store

• Shopper John Mawere filmed maggots under packs of raw free-range chicken at the North Riding Woolworths and shared the video on social media
• Mawere said staff responded dismissively when he flagged the issue and struggled to reach the store manager
• Woolworths brought in independent hygiene experts and launched a forensic deep clean of the affected poultry section

A Johannesburg shopper got far more than he bargained for during a routine visit to Woolworths at Bel Air Shopping Centre in North Riding when he spotted maggots sitting beneath packs of raw free-range chicken in the store's refrigerated poultry display.

John Mawere pulled out his phone, filmed what he found, and posted the footage to social media. His point was simple: customers paying premium prices for a brand that trades on quality have every right to expect exactly that.

Staff attitude made it worse

For Mawere, the maggots were only part of the problem. He said the reaction from store employees when he raised the alarm made things considerably worse. Staff came across as casual and unbothered, and his attempts to speak directly with the store manager led nowhere. He described being given the runaround rather than a straight answer.

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Despite the upsetting experience, Mawere was clear that he was not after money or revenge. He said he had no intention of abandoning Woolworths as a retailer, but he wanted the matter handled with urgency. He suggested that if the company wanted to make things right, it should consider channelling support towards underprivileged communities rather than offering him personal compensation.

Woolworths launches forensic deep clean

According to TimesLive, Woolworths moved quickly once the complaint reached the business. The retailer cleared the entire poultry section of products and brought in independent hygiene specialists to conduct a forensic deep clean of the affected area.

The company described the incident as isolated, pointing out that the Bel Air store had recently passed a routine hygiene audit with no issues flagged. A formal public apology followed, in which Woolworths acknowledged that it had let its customers down. The retailer confirmed that an internal investigation was underway to identify the root cause and put measures in place to prevent a repeat.

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Source: Briefly News