Golden Corral Under Investigation After ‘Dumpster Ribs’ Video Surfaces
Published at
Ben Jammin/YouTube(PORT ORANGE, Fla.) — Local health authorities are investigating a Golden Corral restaurant franchise in Port Orange, Fla., after photos and videos were posted on Reddit and YouTube exposing what appeared to be unhygienic practices.
Brandon Huber, an employee of the restaurant, opens the YouTube video by saying, “Apparently what my company likes to do to get ready for inspections is to put their food by the Dumpsters.” He subsequently shows raw hamburger patties swarmed by flies and raw ribs sitting by the Dumpster.
“To me this is disgusting,” Huber says on the video. “I’m an employee here. I’ve been working here for a long time. I don’t feel this is right.”
The video was posted on Reddit Tuesday morning, along with photos of the restaurant showing a kitchen overflowing with garbage and dirty dishes. The video garnered more than 280,000 views and 2,500 comments on YouTube.
Golden Corral released a statement saying that none of the food on the video had been served to customers, and it was all destroyed within an hour. The manager involved was subsequently terminated for failure to follow food-handling procedures.
The statement maintained that while Huber made the video, he also helped throw out the same food he was ridiculing. The statement said that the following day, Huber’s father offered to sell the video to the franchise owner for $5,000.
Neither Huber nor his father could be reached for comment.
Golden Corral is a national chain of restaurants with approximately 500 locations in more than 30 states. According to its website, it offers “real, wholesome foods in a family-friendly atmosphere at a great value.”
The Florida Department of Business and Regulation told ABC News that a complaint had been filed with the Division of Hotels and Restaurants, which will be conducting an investigation into the matter.
Huber is still employed by the restaurant, but is on paid leave, according to the company.
The last inspection for the Port Orange franchise of Golden Corral was last January, according to the website of the Florida Department of Business and Regulation, and the restaurant met inspection standards. But in October 2012, a follow-up inspection was required, citing violations of Florida’s sanitation and safety laws.
Copyright 2013 ABC News Radio