Channel 4 documentary exposes Edinburgh Costa as having 'high levels of bacteria'

A Channel 4 documentary released earlier this week has exposed an Edinburgh branch of Costa Coffee as having “high levels of bacteria on surfaces which were supposed to be clean”.

Costa Coffee

A team of scientists was sent around the UK for Channel 4’s ‘Dispatches: How Safe Is It Going Out?’ to test more than 170 surfaces throughout six towns and cities. The aim was to find out how clean big brands are keeping their stores in light of the pandemic.

After wiping a number of surfaces down in several Costa branches, scientists sent the samples off to be analysed and found that one branch in Edinburgh showed high levels of bacteria on surfaces which were supposed to be clean.

The chain has confirmed that the Edinburgh branch in question is located at 1 Hanover Street.

Swabs were taken from tables, chairs, side plates, trays and toilet door handles inside Costa branches. The team found that samples from the Cardiff and Birmingham branches contained faecal coliforms.

The investigation was part of Channel 4’s Dispatches: How Safe Is It Going Out?, which aired on Monday October 26.

A Costa Coffee spokesperson said: “The safety of our store teams and customers is our number one priority and we were pleased to learn that no evidence of coronavirus, or indeed any other viruses, was found in any of our stores.

"In response to the coronavirus pandemic we have enhanced our hygiene measures in line with Government guidelines, including sanitising surfaces at least every thirty minutes.

"We have re-communicated our cleaning procedures to all our stores and spoken directly to those stores featured in this programme.”

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