A national news outlet says that a Morrisons store in Coalville was criticised by a food hygiene inspector who found mouldy quiches and 200 out of date rashers of bacon.

The petrol station branch received a one-star 'major improvement necessary' rating after the visit to the Whitwick Business Park branch.

Metro says that a 'large quantity' of food past its use-by date was found in under-counter fridges in a kitchen by the inspector on March 7 this year.

The items included 80 partially-cooked rashers of bacon with the use-by date of February 2 and another 120 dated February 23.

A letter to the supermarket giant released under the Freedom of Information Act states: "It is an offence to sell food which is unfit for human consumption or expose for sale food with an expired use-by date.

'All food on your premises is deemed to be for sale unless it is clearly marked and separated from other foods."

The official, working for North West Leicestershire District Council, also found 80 partially-cooked sausages with the date of February 14.

The Metro reports adds that, inside the store, two 170g quiche Lorraines were found 'with visible mould growth' and use-by dates of March 3.

Morrisons Daily in Coalville was reporteed. Image: Inatantstreetview.com

The items were 'discarded on top of a bucket to the right of the Grab and Go display on the shop floor', a council document states.

An inspection of a freezer found that further meat had been frozen without labels showing the date of freezing, defrosting or cook-by date.

The stock was recorded as 300 rashers of partially-cooked bacon, all of which had been frozen for longer than 30 days – the time limit by which food must be cooked by, according to a policy on display in the branch.

The letter reads: 'All the products found in the freezer had been frozen in excess of 30 days – some for up to five months.'

The inspector noted that a manager from the main store had checked with head office and been advised that it was permissible to freeze products for three months before use and the 2018 procedure might be out of date.

Staffing issues were also highlighted at the Daily store on the Whitwick Road, with one employee observed 'with a long queue of customers' and 'struggling to cope with the significant demands'.

The report reads: 'It was clear from discussions with staff that they were frustrated and felt that their requests for assistance were not being heard.'

The inspector, who was joined by managers from the main store, wrote: 'Nobody was able to give a definitive answer as to whether food preparation, specifically of bacon and sausage sandwiches, was still ongoing or if it had stopped – and if it had stopped, when it had stopped.'

The kitchen was also found to have no means of hand drying for a wash basin and a draining channel used in meat preparation had 'a significant quantity of detritus, grease and mould'.