Food Lion grocery store temporarily closed because of asbestos

Myrtle Beach, SC – It has been discovered that asbestos was disturbed in a Myrtle Beach grocery store last month while workers were performing some renovations.

The South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Controls has confirmed that the Food Lion’s management has voluntarily decided to close the store while health officials conduct an investigation into how the incident occurred. It is suspected that a construction worker did not follow proper safety procedures when removing some floor tiles, which resulted in asbestos fibers from the asbestos-containing materials securing the tiles to be released.

The store is telling its customers to get rid of any food they bought there between February 18 and March 25 and to bring back their receipts for a full refund.

The DHEC’s Bureau of Air Quality chief, Myra Reece, said the agency is concerned about the health of everyone who was in the store during that time. She said air quality tests were conducted and results showed no levels of asbestos, but some samples taken from store surfaces did prove that the substance was present in the building.

An epidemiologist for the DHEC said the potential for shoppers to experience long term health effects is low. The agency has created a fact sheet for customers who have questions regarding the incident and gives advice on what they should do with food purchased at the store.

A spokesperson for the Food Lion announced that the store will be closed an undetermined, but short, length of time.

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