San Bernardino County Health Department Officials shut down the Burger King franchise in Twentynine Palms after a June 14 inspections, calling it “an immediate threat to public health and safety.”
The fast food joint was closed after an inspector saw evidence of vermin activity throughout the restaurant, located at 71707 Twentynine Palms Highway, as per the report:
- Fresh rodent droppings under the fryer area at the front of the kitchen on the floor and on top of food wrappers under the fryer, per the manager this area is pressure washed weekly.
- Fresh rodent dropping in the plastic tray containing the ice scoops actively in use.
- Fresh rodent droppings in the cabinet under the soda machine in the customer area.
- Fresh and old rodent droppings in the floor sink in front of the soda machine in the customer area.
- Fresh rodent droppings on the shelf with the motor above the soda syrup.
- Fresh rodent droppings on the entrance to a hole in the wall behind the registers at the drive through window.
- Fresh and old rodent droppings on the floor behind the registers at the drive through window.
- Old droppings located under the counter at the front of the kitchen.
- Fresh and old rodent droppings under the soda syrup storage area.
- Fresh and old rodent droppings located under the chemical storage area by the rear entrance to the kitchen.
- One snapped rodent trap was observed under the dry storage area, evidence of rodent feeding on the peanut butter on the trap observed, no rodent was in the trap.
- Nesting evidence was observed under the far right cabinet under the soda machine. In the cardboard box that contained straws, a gnawed grape jelly packet was observed. In this box the straws were gnawed in a nest-like shape. Yellow staining was observed on the surfaces of the straw, wrappers, and plastic bags within this box. This box and its contents were discarded by the manager.
- Several traps were set throughout the facility by pest control.
- One snapped rodent trap was observed under the soda machine cabinet in the front customer area.
As Z107.7 notes, officials returned to the Burger King location the next day, June 15th. After a hearing and reinspection, the fast food restaurant was allowed to open again.
The restaurant was then inspected again on June 18th and, while old vermin droppings were found, officials did not find evidence of new ones and the restaurant was allowed to stay open.
Health officials are set to return to inspect again on June 23.
