Landers Balintawak faces sanitation concerns over dirty shelves, alleged rat sighting

The video, posted by a Threads user, showed the alleged conditions inside the store, with the user writing: “Landers Balintawak ang linis ha? Malapit pa talaga sa mga gulay. Tsk. May tumawid pang [malaking] daga, ‘di ko na ‘vid nakakaloka.”

Several commenters questioned whether the visible buildup was mold and raised concerns about possible pests, while others shared their own alleged experiences of flies, spoiled produce, foul odors, and sticky floors at other Landers branches.

Those accounts, however, are individual reports and cannot by themselves establish that the same conditions are present throughout Landers stores.

If an inspection confirms that a supermarket is failing to meet food-safety or sanitation requirements, the Food Safety Act of 2013 and the Code on Sanitation provide a regulatory framework that could apply.

The Food Safety Act specifically places supermarkets under the food-safety responsibilities of local government units, while sanitation rules require food establishments to meet prescribed standards and maintain vermin-control measures.

Violations of the Food Safety Act can carry a ₱50,000 to ₱100,000 fine and a one-month suspension of the appropriate authorization for a first conviction, increasing to ₱100,000 to ₱200,000 and a three-month suspension for a second conviction, and ₱200,000 to ₱300,000 and a six-month suspension for a third conviction.

More serious violations causing injury or death carry higher penalties, including possible imprisonment and revocation of authorization.

radar Business reached out to Landers for comment regarding the Balintawak video and the allegations raised by users, but the company had not responded as of writing.

READ: