Maggots at a restaurant...Would you return? Update

[threeboysmom]

That is ABSOLUTELY gross!! What a SICK prank to pull! You bet I would never return and I'd make sure that word got out about how they handled the situation...

Makes me sick to my stomach just thinking about it...

 

[robinb]

No, I would not return. Not because of the maggots (since they were a prank), but because of the way the employees handled it.

 

[Bella the Ball 360]

Just had to share our experience from last Saturday. We were out and decided to stop at our local 'fast food' stop for a quick lunch. (I won't mention the name but be assured it's a major chain). We ordered our food and DD and DH sat down while I went for ketcup etc. I was reaching for one of those little paper cups to put the ketchup in when I noticed something move ! There were about 20-30 1/2" whoite worms all over the cups, counter and ketchup dispenser. I immediately went to the manager and told them what was there. The manager on duty snickered when I told her...I didn't think anything was funny. She then came around to the condiment area and carried the tray with the worms and the ketchup to the back where the other employees looked and laughed. We remained in the restaurant for about 15 minutes watching. No one ever came to apologize or to clean and disinfect the area. We went home and I immediately called the company which only takes calls from 8-5 on Mon -Fri. Must be nice to be a multi million dollar corporation and not work weekends. And by the way they do not accept e mails either. I called the health department also. It's been quite q week. Three people have been arrested for this 'so called' prank. I will still never enter the restaurant again. Would you? I can understand it being a prank but the way it was handled was wrong. If the employees thought that was funny (they did know the people who pulled the prank-ex employee) what else do they do for fun. They'll never see me again. That's for sure. i want to know what's in my food and that the restaurant is kept properly cleaned.

Only one huge chain that I know of that does not accept e mails was it Peter Pan's GF?

 

[MrsKreamer]

Ugh and yuck. I worked for 3 major chain fast food companies. One of them I didn't stay b/c of the way a bug problem was handled. One of the other two, we kept that place so clean, you could have eaten off of the floor and ceiling. At that location we got a visit from regional mngt every week and got scored. Our score effected how our mngr got paid, so we kept the place spotless!

I think you did the right thing....maggots aside I would be p'ed if they had handled any complaint with laughter.

 

[poohandwendy]

I cannot (won't) read anything beyond the title, but I can tell you my answer is NO.

 

[PhotobearSam]

No way.... Can't believe that the manager was not more concerned with the way you would perceive the situation...Horrible.

 

[DisneyAddict_M]

I would have puked. Then they'd have more than just maggots to clean up.

 

[luckywife]

No way in the world would I ever step foot back in that place! It makes my stomach do flips just thinking about it!

 

[Saffron]

Ewww, gross, no way would I ever go back there, joke or no joke, because I would forever more be grossed out about it and would never be able to get it out of mind.

 

[cvemom]

Only one huge chain that I know of that does not accept e mails was it Peter Pan's GF?

No it wasn't. There's another major chain that doesn't accept emails.

 

[FreshTressa]

Maggots are my "achilles heel"

I could not go back. I would never be able to forget. In fact...I may not be able to have ketchup in little cups for a LONG time.

And it was handled very poorly.

 

[ADisneygirl]

No. Never. Not handled properly on several levels. No second chance from me.

Ditto from me.

 

[raammartin]

That's just SICK. That prank should have cost them their jobs.

 

[Scuba Steve]

Nope. No way, no how.

 

[snowwite]

Maggots are my "achilles heel"

I could not go back. I would never be able to forget. In fact...I may not be able to have ketchup in little cups for a LONG time.

And it was handled very poorly.

We dont use the little ketchup cups since I caught a kid with his mouth on the "faucet" where the ketchup comes out.The idea of maggots in a food areae is sooooo gross!!! They should be closed down.Yuk.

 

[Bella the Ball 360]

No it wasn't. There's another major chain that doesn't accept emails.

Oh God now I need to figure out who that one is so I can avoid them too!! Any chain that does not take e mail and makes it hard to contact them makes me very nervous!

 

[ducklite]

I would call the corporate HQ on Monday. The managers reaction is the most problematic issue here. She should have been bending over backwards to profusely apologize. And to think that former employees did this as a joke? They should have been brought up on charges--surely there is something in the public health code about "tampering with food" that would apply.

Would I go back--after I was reassured that they ahd "cleaned house"--and not from a mop and broom standpoint. Only after more than a few people, including upper managerment were GONE!

I'd also make more than a little stink with the Health Department, and possibly even call the media...only because my blood would be boiling over the way it was handled.

Anne

 

[Obi-Wan Pinobi]

I've learned to never say never. There is a lot of turnover in fast food, including in management. Years down the road the management at all levels could be extremely different. I will say that, if this had happened to me, it would take a LOT for this particular location -- and possibly the franchisee or even the entire chain -- to earn my business back.

Like the OP, I would be in contact with the restaurant manager (assuming that was not the restaurant manager there at the time), the district manager, the franchise owner if it's a franchise, and eventually the corporate offices. I'd also be calling the health department in the meantime. If the DM was unresponsive, then I'd be calling the media outlets.

It's not just what was found, but the reactions. The MOD and the employees acted like it was a joke they planted. That's not something you joke with. What if YOU had been the health inspector just stopping in for dinner? They'd be up a certain creek without even a boat much less a paddle.

 

[C.Ann]

Over the week I've been in contact with the store manager, franchise manager , corporate headquarters and , oh yes, our local television station. The store wants me to forgive and forget but no way...not when they play with the health of innocent people that way.

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This is something that also should be reported to the Health Department..

I would have literally gotten sick to my stomach if I saw that.. Yuck!!!!!!!!

 

[kristen821]

This is why I am so afraid of ketchup dispencers! Yuck!