Guest guest Posted February 23, 2007 Report Share Posted February 23, 2007 Rats Run Wild in KFC-Taco Bell in N.Y. By VERENA DOBNIK (Associated Press Writer) From Associated PressFebruary 23, 2007 12:27 PM EST earthlink.net/article/nat?guid=20070223/45de74d0_3421_1334520070223-20903016 NEW YORK - A dozen rats were caught on video scurrying around the floor of a New York City KFC/Taco Bell restaurant early Friday, running between counters and tables and climbing on children's high chairs. News crews flocked to the windows of the Greenwich Village neighborhood restaurant, which hadn't opened for the day. By midmorning, the footage was all over the Internet and television news shows, with onlookers giving a play-by-play from the sidewalk as the rodents moved about. "He's coming for his close-up," one bystander said as a rat came near the window. Employees came to work, but no customers were allowed in as health inspectors arrived. There was no answer at the phone number displayed in neon on the store window below the words "We Deliver." "This is completely unacceptable and is an absolute violation of our high standards," KFC and Taco Bell said in a statement. "This restaurant has been closed and we are addressing the issue with the franchise owner. We will not allow this store to reopen until is it completely resanitized and given a clean bill of health." The chains said construction in the basement on Thursday "temporarily escalated the situation." The city Department of Health had inspectors at the site on Friday, said department spokeswoman Sara Markt. She said the restaurant had passed inspection in December, but a violation was issued to the restaurant owner about "evidence of rats" - which meant only droppings at the time. Markt said the owner of the franchise is listed with the department as ADF Fifth Operating Corp. Rats have long been a problem in New York City, with such a dense population and such a large and readily available food supply for the rodents. They are frequently scampering through subway tunnels, rooting through trash, dashing across parks and burrowing into the walls of apartment buildings. But it is rare to see so many rats congregating in one place in such public view. Yum Brands Inc., based in Louisville, Ky., owns the Taco Bell and KFC restaurant chains. Last week, it was reported that Taco Bell sales had slumped after a widely publicized E. coli scare, but that international sales helped Yum Brands in the company's fourth quarter. The E. coli outbreak late last year caused more than 70 Taco Bell customers to become ill. Federal officials said in December that the most likely source of the illnesses was lettuce. Taco Bell took precautions by changing its suppliers of lettuce and cheese in New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Delaware. Copyright 2007 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Truly man is the king of beasts, for his brutality exceeds theirs. We live by the death of others: we are burial places! I have from an early age abjured the use of meat, and the time will come when men such as I will look on the murder of animals as they now look on the murder of men. ~ Leonardo da Vinci (Renaissance painter, architect, engineer, mathematician and philosopher, 1452 - 1519) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 23, 2007 Report Share Posted February 23, 2007 saw this on the news this morning... but..since this is kfc...i hope the rats didn't end up extra crispy..... zurumato Feb 23, 2007 2:35 PM veganchat , Vegan_Animal_Rights KFC eating Rats Run Wild in KFC-Taco Bell in N.Y. By VERENA DOBNIK (Associated Press Writer) From Associated PressFebruary 23, 2007 12:27 PM EST earthlink.net/article/nat?guid=20070223/45de74d0_3421_1334520070223-20903016 NEW YORK - A dozen rats were caught on video scurrying around the floor of a New York City KFC/Taco Bell restaurant early Friday, running between counters and tables and climbing on children's high chairs. News crews flocked to the windows of the Greenwich Village neighborhood restaurant, which hadn't opened for the day. By midmorning, the footage was all over the Internet and television news shows, with onlookers giving a play-by-play from the sidewalk as the rodents moved about. "He's coming for his close-up," one bystander said as a rat came near the window. Employees came to work, but no customers were allowed in as health inspectors arrived. There was no answer at the phone number displayed in neon on the store window below the words "We Deliver." "This is completely unacceptable and is an absolute violation of our high standards," KFC and Taco Bell said in a statement. "This restaurant has been closed and we are addressing the issue with the franchise owner. We will not allow this store to reopen until is it completely resanitized and given a clean bill of health." The chains said construction in the basement on Thursday "temporarily escalated the situation." The city Department of Health had inspectors at the site on Friday, said department spokeswoman Sara Markt. She said the restaurant had passed inspection in December, but a violation was issued to the restaurant owner about "evidence of rats" - which meant only droppings at the time. Markt said the owner of the franchise is listed with the department as ADF Fifth Operating Corp. Rats have long been a problem in New York City, with such a dense population and such a large and readily available food supply for the rodents. They are frequently scampering through subway tunnels, rooting through trash, dashing across parks and burrowing into the walls of apartment buildings. But it is rare to see so many rats congregating in one place in such public view. Yum Brands Inc., based in Louisville, Ky., owns the Taco Bell and KFC restaurant chains. Last week, it was reported that Taco Bell sales had slumped after a widely publicized E. coli scare, but that international sales helped Yum Brands in the company's fourth quarter. The E. coli outbreak late last year caused more than 70 Taco Bell customers to become ill. Federal officials said in December that the most likely source of the illnesses was lettuce. Taco Bell took precautions by changing its suppliers of lettuce and cheese in New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Delaware. Copyright 2007 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Truly man is the king of beasts, for his brutality exceeds theirs. We live by the death of others: we are burial places! I have from an early age abjured the use of meat, and the time will come when men such as I will look on the murder of animals as they now look on the murder of men. ~ Leonardo da Vinci (Renaissance painter, architect, engineer, mathematician and philosopher, 1452 - 1519) I see in the near future a crisis approaching that unnerves me and causes me to tremble for the safety of my country. As a result of war, corporations have been enthroned, and an era of corruption in high places will follow, and the money power of the country will endeavor to prolong its reign by working upon the prejudices of the people until all the wealth is aggregated in a few hands and the republic is destroyed. I feel, at this moment, more anxiety for the safety of my country than ever before, even in the midst of war. God grant that my suspicions may prove groundless." Lincoln in a letter to Col. William F. Elkins on November 21, 1864 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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