CONSUMER WATCH: Food Safety Warning Issued for St. Croix Grocery Store Refrigerated Section

(Facebook / Brian Lindholdt)

By JOHN McCARTHY / St. Croix Sun Staff Writer

FREDERKSTED — The St. Croix Sun is issuing an immediate consumer advisory for shoppers who purchased perishable goods from the deli and refrigerated sections of the local Stop and Shop supermarket today, Sunday, May 31, 2026.

A citizen alert broadcasted Sunday afternoon showed internal thermometers inside the Hannah’s Rest store's display cases tracking temperatures between 15°C and 20°C (60°F)—far exceeding the safe federal threshold of 4°C (40°F) required to prevent rapid bacterial growth in meat, dairy, and poultry products.

The affected display cases contained highly perishable inventory, including processed dairy spreads and packaged poultry meats. While store employees reportedly indicated maintenance was actively addressing a cooling malfunction, the items remained accessible to consumers as of mid-afternoon.

What Consumers Should Do:

• Inspect Your Fridge: If you purchased deli meats, cheeses, or refrigerated spreads from Stop and Shop after 12:00 PM today, verify the internal temperature of the packaging immediately.

• When in Doubt, Throw It Out: Perishable food exposed to temperatures above 4°C for more than two hours should not be consumed, as it poses a severe risk of foodborne illness.

The St. Croix Sun has reached out to store management for an update on the repair timeline and whether compromised stock is being systematically removed from the floor. Updates will be posted as they arrive.