A meal at McDonald’s is probably the last place where anyone expects to spot rats running across the tables. But that’s exactly what a customer appears to have captured on camera at an outlet in Gujarat.A video doing the rounds on social media shows two rats moving across tables and chairs inside a McDonald’s restaurant. The animals can be seen running through the seating area where customers would normally sit and eat.The McCafe sign and menu visible in the background helped identify the outlet as a McDonald’s restaurant.
Where was the video filmed?
According to Rajkot Municipal Corporation Health Officer Dr Jayesh Vankani, the video was traced to the McDonald’s outlet near Greenland Chokdi in Rajkot.After the footage surfaced online, the RMC Health Department reportedly visited the outlet and carried out an inspection.During questioning, the outlet manager reportedly said the rats had entered from a construction site next to the restaurant.The video has nevertheless triggered a strong reaction online, with viewers questioning how rodents managed to enter an area where food is prepared and customers are served.
Why rats inside a restaurant are a serious concern
Rodents aren’t just an unpleasant sight in a restaurant. They can contaminate food, utensils and surfaces through their urine, droppings and contact with food-handling areas.That makes their presence in a dining space a food-safety concern, particularly when the animals are seen moving across tables and seating areas.The Rajkot incident comes at a time when another rodent-related food safety case has also made headlines.
Another rodent case at a Mumbai dark store
Earlier this week, Maharashtra’s Food and Drug Administration (FDA) said it had suspended the licence of M/s Swinsta ENT Private Limited, a Swiggy Instamart dark store at Ballard Estate in South Mumbai.According to the FDA, officials found a live rat in the store’s handling area during an inspection. Several 10-kg rice bags had also reportedly been gnawed open by rodents, while rodent droppings were found in storage areas.The two incidents have once again put the spotlight on pest control and hygiene at places where food is stored, handled or served.Meanwhile, the video from the Rajkot McDonald’s outlet continues to circulate online, with many viewers asking what measures restaurants need to take to prevent rodents from getting anywhere near customer areas.
