Workers at a filthy Louisiana Wendy’s say they’ve been forced to work around black mold, collapsing walls and flooded floors – only to have their warnings ignored.
Shift managers at a Wendy’s near the Tanger Outlet Mall just off I-10 in Ascension Parish say that the restaurant is plagued by severe cleanliness issues, including mold forming beneath the sandwich maker, according to WBRZ News.
A solution, however, appears out of reach, as the workers claim dozens of warnings to the branch’s operator about the deteriorating conditions have been met with silence.
‘It’s just a complete wreck,’ manager Heather Messer told the outlet.
Lisa Bowlin, a manager at the location, echoed the same concerns. ‘It is keeping us all sick, but we still have to come into work,’ she said.
In a desperate bid to raise awareness of their concerns, the two women contacted reporter Brittany Weiss from local outlet WBRZ to tour the environment they’ve been working in.
On Wednesday morning, Weiss was shown around the fast-food joint, revealing disturbing conditions throughout the building – most notably the unsanitary kitchen where food is prepared.
‘I can smell the mold,’ Bowlin said while leading the group into an area of the restaurant typically hidden from the public eye.
Workers at a filthy Louisiana Wendy’s said that they’ve been forced in disturbing and unsanitary conditions, one of which being mold rapidly forming beneath the sandwich maker
Shift managers at a Wendy’s near the Tanger Outlet Mall just off I-10 in Ascension Parish revealed to WBRZ News that the fast-food restaurant has been plagued by severe cleanliness issues for months
The workers said a solution is difficult to achieve and claim that the dozens of warnings to corporate about the deteriorating conditions have only been met with silence
The two employees said the problem has become so extreme that bleach isn’t enough to stop or slow the growth of new mold spots
Right away, the ceiling, walls and the undersides of several machines crucial for making its beloved burgers and fries were spotted with what appeared to be black mold.
The two employees said the problem has become so extreme that bleach isn’t enough to stop or slow the growth of new mold spots.
Messer admitted that even she has become constantly worried about the quality of their products, as Haza Foods – the operator of the restaurant – has refused to address every red flag she’s raised during her four months on the job.
‘The way I feel, they’re not worried about our health,’ Bowlin said. ‘It’s more the money situation that they’re worried about.’
Mold is only part of the nightmare – many of the challenges the shift leaders endure are directly caused by a leaking roof, the outlet reported.
Both Bowlin and Messer said their breaking point came recently, when a rainstorm drenched the kitchen – and them – while they worked.
During their shift, footage captured water seeping through the thin white ceiling tiles and overhead lights, dripping onto the security cameras below.
Another shot revealed rainwater from outside pooling across the red floors, forming deep puddles that ran beneath kitchen equipment.
Mold is only part of the nightmare – many of the challenges the shift leaders endure are directly caused by a leaking roof
In the office, the managers showed the outlet computers wrapped in tightly tied garbage bags – including the one controlling the security cameras – while employees’ personal belongings were tucked into a small cubby to avoid rainwater
Video footage taken after a recent storm revealed rainwater from outside pooling across the red floors and forming deep puddles that ran beneath the all of the kitchen equipment
Although the Louisiana Department of Health has inspected the restaurant multiple times and addressed some violations, the managers told the outlet that the filth and hazards continue to linger within the store
‘We get rained on in the office,’ Bowlin explained. ‘We have to keep our garbage bags over our stuff because when it rains, everything gets soaking wet.’
Bowlin ushered Weiss into the cramped office and showed her computers covered with tightly tied garbage bags – including the one linked to the security cameras – while staff stored their personal belongings in a small cubby.
The immense rainfall has begun to tear apart sections of the kitchen, adding yet more dangers for the staff.
Just last week, a wall behind the drink station suddenly collapsed and now sits lodged between the machines, staff said.
‘I want the place to be fixed,’ Bowlin said.
Although the Louisiana Department of Health has reportedly inspected the restaurant multiple times and addressed some violations, the managers told the outlet that the filth and hazards continue to linger within the store.
The most recent inspection was as recently as November, according to the report.
Daily Mail has reached out to Wendy’s and Haza Foods for comment.
