Two Morrisons stores have been given one-star food hygiene ratings after inspectors identified defrosted frozen food, out-of-date products and cleanliness issues during separate visits.

The retailer’s Caernarvon Road store in Cheltenham was rated “major improvement necessary” following an unannounced inspection on 20 January.

Officers found meat and fish products in two freezers were not properly frozen, with one freezer recording an air temperature of -0.4C and frozen cod fillets measuring -1.1C. Frozen food should generally be kept at -18C or below.

According to findings released through a Freedom of Information request by The Grocer, inspectors described several products as “soft and floppy” and concluded the defrosted items “posed a risk to human health” and were “not fit for human consumption”. Management staff agreed with the assessment.

A total of 431 items were disposed of at the Cheltenham store, including 48 packets of Morrisons Savers Chicken Nuggets and 33 bags of Young’s Flipper Dippers.

The inspection report also raised concerns over staff awareness and the implementation of food safety procedures. A freezer alarm had sounded two days before the visit, while a customer had complained to Cheltenham Borough Council the previous day.

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Morrisons’ Aberystwyth branch at Parc Y Llyn Retail Park also received a one-star rating following an inspection on 26 February, after complaints were made about cleanliness and freezer conditions at the store.

Officers found a chilli con carne ready meal and yellowfin sole fillets on sale one day beyond their use-by dates, alongside dirty freezers and deli equipment. Inspectors also reported that a “significant quantity” of ready meals had been stored above the legal temperature limit of 8C.

The council warned that “further enforcement action” could follow, noting that out-of-date food had also been identified during the store’s previous two inspections.