We've all heard a horror story or two about restaurants not treating their food with the utmost of care and hygiene (if I got paid for every "customer found xx in their xx from xx" I would be just slightly better off than I am now). Today's episode of "I dIdN't OrDeR THAT?!?!" comes from Delaware.
A Burger King in Wilmington, Delaware, was temporarily shuttered by public health inspectors after a woman spotted rodents running amok among the restaurant’s stash of burger buns.
Footage of the rodents, which was shared on Facebook by Wilmington resident Shantel Johnson on Thursday, shows at least two of the critters scurrying around inside a large package of sandwich buns. “Don’t go to Burger King on 202. (rodents) running all over their buns (at) Wilmington Delaware Concord Pike,” she wrote in the caption of the video, alongside three vomiting emoji.
As of late Tuesday, Johnson’s post had generated more than 742,000 views and 22,000 shares. Delaware’s Division of Public Health Office of Food Protection received a complaint last Friday, according to Delaware Online. Inspectors visited the Burger King location on Concord Pike in Brandywine Hundred.
After inspecting the restaurant, the decision was made to close the location immediately due to an "imminent health hazard" caused by "gross unsanitary conditions" and "rodent infestation". They reportedly found rodent droppings in the burger buns, as well as droppings on the floor near storage areas and behind the fryer, among other places. Inspectors also found part of the ceiling to be leaking, and flies coming out of a drain.
If that wasn't enough, state health officials also found that rodents chewed through the plastic covering and the rolls as well. Rodent droppings were also found in other areas throughout the restaurant, including near the ice machine, the water heater, under dry storage, and near syrup storage boxes. Two mice were also removed from a trap, according to the inspection report.
Burger King told Delaware Online that the location in question was independently owned and operated. The owner of the location has been contacted and told to "investigate this matter and ensure they take the appropriate measures", Burger King said.
The restaurant reopened on Monday with a follow up schedule due on the same day, where the operators needed to demonstrate that they addressed the lapses in "food security issues". Until then, the restaurant will also be required to undergo weekly pest service until the "issue is eliminated".
To have this happen at one of the top fast food restaurants in America - if not the world - doesn't give people hope that their favorite burger joints are telling us the whole truth. The way I see it, in the competition to get our attention on social media, McDonald's Burger King and the like are one ill-advised Wendy's diss away from the red-haired devil going all Pusha T on us.