A shopper’s cell phone video that aired on KPRC has turned one Humble Walmart into the talk of the produce aisle, after it showed two rats crawling over cucumbers on Tuesday. The customer who recorded the clip told the station they alerted store management, but walked out feeling their concerns were brushed off. Walmart told the outlet it pulled any products that might have been affected and ramped up preventative measures.
Shopper video shows rodents on bare cucumbers
According to Click2Houston, the footage shows two rats perched on top of cucumbers along the fresh produce wall, with the vegetables sitting uncovered and within easy reach of shoppers. The viewer, who asked not to be identified, told the station they felt “disgusted” after spotting the animals. In the clip shared by the station, the rodents can be seen moving along the same shelf where customers normally grab their veggies.
Walmart says customer safety is a priority
In a statement to Click2Houston, a Walmart spokesperson said that “customer health and safety is a top priority” and that any potentially impacted products were removed from the store while additional preventative steps were put in place with vendors. The station reported it has requested inspection and complaint records tied to this Humble location from Harris County Public Health, and noted that those documents are still pending.
Houston’s rat problem is nothing new
Rodent complaints are not exactly rare around Houston. Orkin’s 2023 “rattiest cities” report put the Houston metro in the top 20 nationwide, a ranking that sparked fresh local scrutiny of pest control in grocery stores, restaurants and homes. For more on that listing, see coverage from the Houston Chronicle and the underlying report from Orkin.
How shoppers can check inspection records
Harris County Public Health’s Environmental Public Health division handles inspections for grocery stores and other retail food outlets, and it publishes guidance on permits, complaint procedures and an online search tool for historical inspection reports. Shoppers who want to file a complaint or look up a store’s inspection history can find those resources through Harris County Public Health. KPRC reported that its records request related to this Walmart location is still pending, and this article will be updated if officials release additional details.
