Feb 24, 2007 9:11 pm US/Eastern
Rat-Infested KFC Passed Inspection 1 Day Earlier
NEW YORK (CBS) ―
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A KFC/Taco Bell restaurant in New York City passed health inspection the day before CBS station WCBS-TV filmed rats running rampant through it.
CBS
The New York City Health Department said Saturday the rat-infested KFC/Taco Bell in Greenwich Village actually passed inspection one day before CBS station WCBS-TV cameras caught the rodents running all over the place.
Health officials said the restaurant 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.
On Friday, the restaurant was shut down after WCBS-TV cameras caught more than a dozen rats running wild on the floors, tables and counters during closing hours.
The Health Department said the restaurant 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.
Rick Maynard of KFC/Taco Bell issued a statement Friday, saying: "This is completely unacceptable and is an absolute violation of our high standards. This restaurant has been closed and we are addressing the issue with the franchise owner. We will not allow this store to re-open until it is completely re-sanitized and given a clean bill of health. We want to reassure customers that this is an isolated incident."
(© MMVII, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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