A Florida food service worker's TikTok post exposing unsanitary restaurant kitchen conditions has caused a stir online.
His efforts to expose the business were successful, proving once again the power of social media.
The worker shared evidence of various health code violations on TikTok, leading to the involvement of the health department.
The employee, Alex Maupin, a 10-year veteran of the restaurant industry, said he only worked three days at the Wolfhound Irish Pub in Clermont before being canned. He spent the better part of those few days cleaning the “terrible” kitchen.
Although he was deeply concerned about the lack of food safety measures and was actively helping to instill the necessary precautions, management did not feel any urgency to take action. It seemed like it.
After being fired, Maupin took to TikTok to warn the public. “This place needs to be exposed because it's going to kill someone,” he said.
His videos, which have since been deleted, still exist on TikTok under various accounts and feature blatant food safety violations he has disclosed, including cross-contamination, improper food storage, and unclean cooking surfaces. It came as a shock to many people.
His video alerted many people to the restaurant's concerning conditions, and the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation (FDBPR) was soon contacted for a health inspection.
His videos reveal countless health code violations and prove the unfortunate reality behind many restaurants.
In the video, Maupin showed the restaurant's dishwasher and cleaning station, which was full of unsanitary trash. He said the dishes go through the washing machine with no soap or disinfectant, just hot water.
Food is left exposed in the freezer and refrigerator, unlabeled and undated. Maupin insisted that “God only knows” how long they had been there. The raw meat was placed directly on top of the exposed, expired and rotten meat, never disposed of, and stored in a bin on the floor. Various other foods that appeared to be expired were also not disposed of.
He showed us the kitchen surfaces that he had previously scrubbed himself, full of residue and debris, and revealed the unsanitary sink that the line cooks used to strain potatoes.
The restaurant owner apparently did not take Maupin's suggestion seriously, which resulted in Maupin unapologetically exposing him.
In an updated video, Maupin showed screenshots of messages exchanged with the restaurant's owner, calling attention to the violation of required food safety measures. Despite Maupin's firing, the owners seemed grateful for his message and motivated to take action.
“Imagine what it would have been like for me…to walk into this restaurant and try to save the place and get turned away because basically I'm stirring the pot and causing drama.” is the ultimate reason why I was fired,” he explained.
Maupin added that in his last conversation with the owner, he blamed “other people working in the kitchen for not doing what they were supposed to do.” However, while there was no urgency to train or replace employees, after hiring an employee with food safety qualifications, the owners apparently chose an inexperienced kitchen employee over Maupin.
“Literally. your It’s a business,” Maupin said, pointing to a lack of accountability from owners. “They don't do what they're supposed to do, so you need to get rid of them. ”
FDBPR's health inspection resulted in numerous food safety violations that required follow-up inspections.
FDBPR's health inspection of Wolfhound Irish Pub found 28 basic violations, 12 moderate violations, and 6 high-priority violations.
A medical examination appeared consistent with Maupin's claims.
In fact, as a result of the inspection, the food manager in charge said,[lacked] “Knowledge about food poisoning and disease symptoms,” employee training does not include food allergen awareness, we found no evidence that the employer provided the required state-approved employee training, and the restaurant has expired It was also discovered that the restaurant was operating under a license from the hotel and restaurant sector. .
Some violations state that multiple kitchen surfaces had “black/green mold-like material,” “dirt, slime, or dust,” and “heavy grease residue.”
The health department also charged violations for improperly storing raw meat on top of other foods, storing food on the floor and storing meat at improper temperatures.
Essentially, to no one's surprise, the Wolfhound Irish Pub did not appear to adhere to food safety guidelines.
We can all just hope that restaurants take action and prioritize the safety of their customers.
The restaurant responded to Maupin's TikTok, denying the potential health risks posed by their unruly standards, despite all evidence proving otherwise.
In an Instagram post, Wolfhound Irish Pub issued a statement accusing Maupin of “disrespecting” the restaurant on social media. Additionally, he assured customers not to worry: “We are fully compliant with health inspections and maintain the highest standards for your enjoyment and safety.”
Ironically, they linked to their own medical exam in the post, which only weakened their argument. The post clearly showed a number of health code violations that occurred in 2023, similar to those revealed by Maupin in the video – food being left on the floor, handwashing stations lacking soap, His license had expired.
The restaurant has gone as far as deleting all negative reviews on Google and disabling comments on Instagram posts since Maupin's TikTok went viral.
Perhaps due to the influence of Maupin's TikTok and the subsequent health inspection, the restaurant finally decided to consider and take appropriate measures if necessary. Still, their reactions leave everyone wondering if the restaurant would have taken these precautions so seriously if Maupin had just been thinking about himself and not involving the public. I will think about it.
Sanitation is not recommended in food service. That's a requirement.
Most of the time, people visit restaurants without giving much thought to the conditions in which their food is prepared. If these conditions are overlooked, customers are at significant risk of food poisoning and food injuries.
Unfortunately, too many facilities remain hidden in the shadows and ignore poor food safety practices. Thanks to the proliferation of exposing unethical and dangerous practices through social media, people are beginning to realize the power we have at our fingertips to expose these businesses.
All in all, despite the long list of measures that needed to be taken, it seems all Maupin wanted to do was help. Rather than consider his advice and suggestions, they decided to leave him alone.
Francesca Duarte is a writer on YourTango's news and entertainment team based in Orlando, Florida. She covers lifestyle, human interest, adventure, and spirituality topics.
