Officials To Review Rat-Infested KFC Inspection

Feb 25, 2007 2:44 pm US/Eastern
Officials To Review Rat-Infested KFC Inspection






(CBS) NEW YORK Health officials are going to review the inspection of a Greenwich Village KFC/Taco Bell, which was completed one day before CBS 2 cameras caught dozens of rats scurrying across the store, jumping on tables, and climbing into food trays.

"It doesn't look like the inspection that was done Thursday met our standards," said Geoffrey Cowley, a health department spokesman. "I don't want to prejudge that. We're concerned and we're going to carefully revaluate that inspection."

The restaurant located at Sixth Avenue and West 4th Street was investigated Thursday following complaints, but the inspector didn't see any rats.

In addition, the same restaurant passed both of its inspections last year, although it was fined $1,300 for some violations which included mice droppings.

Now the Health Department has closed the store, and said it will remain closed until it passes re-inspection.

Regardless, many people were so disgusted by the entire episode, they are rethinking their dining plans.

"When I saw the news about the rats, I was like freaking out," frequent customer Kim Pagnottan said. "I was like holy (bleep). I was like oh my god. It's disgusting!

"Now, it's like I don't want to even go out, I want to eat at my own house. I want to cook every day."

Eddie Rue, a now former customer, agreed.

"I will never eat in there again, definitely lost me as a customer," Rue said.

And countless more are sure to bail following the Health Department's actions on Friday and its stunning announcement on Saturday.

"I freaked out. A place where people eat and there are rats running around the floor. And they aren't little rats. They're huge rats!" Victor Pecone said.

Added former KFC/Taco Bell employee Marcus Bonner: "I quit because it was nasty. They don't use gloves to make the food. They use the same grease day after day after day. At night, the manager told me to put the chairs up. We don't sweep; we don't mop. So that's what the rats are eating off, the stuff that's left on the floors."

Still, some are imploring New Yorkers to keep the faith.

"Please, I hope that the public that saw that won't be turned (off), tempted not to patronize our restaurants because we have the finest and cleanest restaurants in the world," said Chuck Hunt of the New York State Restaurant Association.

Yum Brands Inc., the parent company of KFC/.Taco Bell, hastened to show that it also was taking the rodents seriously. "Nothing is more important to us than the health and safety of our customers. This is completely unacceptable and is an absolute violation of our high standards," Yum Brands said in a statement.

The franchise owner "is actively addressing this issue," the statement said, adding that the restaurant will remain closed until the problem is "completely resolved."

(© 2007 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report. )












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