Update: Health Department Deems LR Restaurant Safe , Despite Spitting Incident
By: Brittney Johnson, KARK 4 News
Updated: September 13, 2012
Update: Thursday, September 13
A spokesperson for Arkansas' Department of Health says the Buffalo Wild Wings on Highway 10, where an employee is accused spitting in a customer's food, has a clean sanitation record.
On Wednesday, KARK first reported on a police report detailing how an officer found clear mucus on his chicken at the restaurant Monday.
The company confirmed a kitchen employee has since been fired after surveillance video reportedly showed him spitting in a police officer's food.
Thursday Buffalo Wild Wings commented on a KARK 4 reporter's page, saying the incident goes against policy and they are reinforcing their food safety policies.
Original Story:
A restaurant employee accused of spitting in a customer's meal is fired after surveillance video reportedly catches him in the act.
According to a Little Rock police report, a customer who is also a police officer had just finished eating a piece of chicken when he noticed a "clear mucus looking substance with tiny bubbles," while eating at Buffalo Wild Wings on Highway 10 Monday.
The officer reported he noticed the mucus like substance on two pieces of chicken and returned it. The report also states a manager told him they would look back at the video recording from the kitchen. When the officer returned the following day, the manager told him they found the spot in the video when his food was being prepared and saw an employee spit in the food, then send it out to be served.
KARK reached out to the restaurant but management from the locally and independently owned franchise turned the case over to their corporate office. The company responded with a written statement stating they were aware of the situation and the employee in question. It also stated, "We can tell you that we simply do not tolerate any action that would compromise the food quality and safety of our products. We will take this opportunity to reinforce the importance of our food safety policies."
The statement also confirmed the employee no longer works at the franchise.
The police report lists the offense as third degree assault. Buffalo Wild Wings corporate office says they reached out to the officer.
A spokesperson for Arkansas' Department of Health says the Buffalo Wild Wings on Highway 10, where an employee is accused spitting in a customer's food, has a clean sanitation record.
On Wednesday, KARK first reported on a police report detailing how an officer found clear mucus on his chicken at the restaurant Monday.
The company confirmed a kitchen employee has since been fired after surveillance video reportedly showed him spitting in a police officer's food.
Thursday Buffalo Wild Wings commented on a KARK 4 reporter's page, saying the incident goes against policy and they are reinforcing their food safety policies.
Original Story:
A restaurant employee accused of spitting in a customer's meal is fired after surveillance video reportedly catches him in the act.
According to a Little Rock police report, a customer who is also a police officer had just finished eating a piece of chicken when he noticed a "clear mucus looking substance with tiny bubbles," while eating at Buffalo Wild Wings on Highway 10 Monday.
The officer reported he noticed the mucus like substance on two pieces of chicken and returned it. The report also states a manager told him they would look back at the video recording from the kitchen. When the officer returned the following day, the manager told him they found the spot in the video when his food was being prepared and saw an employee spit in the food, then send it out to be served.
KARK reached out to the restaurant but management from the locally and independently owned franchise turned the case over to their corporate office. The company responded with a written statement stating they were aware of the situation and the employee in question. It also stated, "We can tell you that we simply do not tolerate any action that would compromise the food quality and safety of our products. We will take this opportunity to reinforce the importance of our food safety policies."
The statement also confirmed the employee no longer works at the franchise.
The police report lists the offense as third degree assault. Buffalo Wild Wings corporate office says they reached out to the officer.
Comments
the name of this person should have been in thestory and he needs to be banned form ever working any job dealing with food
DONNIE K.
September 14, 2012 at 8:53 am
DONNIE K.
September 14, 2012 at 8:51 am
Why would you want to do that? I've seen one guy do it, as I have managed three restaurants. I had no authority to fire him. But I would have.
Enrage B.
September 13, 2012 at 2:24 pm
On the local BWW facebook page http://www.facebook.com/BWW3449, several people are questioning and taking about this story. Someone who is apparantly a BWW employee posted this:
"Buffalo Wild Wings in Little Rock does not take this lightly and will take legal action if necessary for anyone involved for slander and defamation of character."
Joe P.
September 13, 2012 at 11:24 am
The sad thing is, a policeman friend of mine first reported the incident via facebook on Tuesday. Apparently, BWW was just going to ignore the situation until legal action was taken. Now they're trying to make themselves good to the media by pretending they took action from the start. Here is the facebook comment from the Little Rock police officer (and a friend of mine):
(Posted 9/11, 3:15pm) "On today, of all days, an employee at Buffalo Wild Wings in Little Rock was observed spitting in a police officers food and then serving it to him, when the manager was told he watched the video and not only refused to do anything to the employee but also refused to give the police officer a copy of the video. Needless to say Buffalo Wild Wings will no longer be on my places to eat list."
Reply made by another person:
(Posted 9/11, 7:15pm) "several people have contacted BWW's......they are denying that this incident ever happened. Please let the officer know that he should get the state FOP involved since BWW's refused to take any action."
Reply made by same LR police officer/OP:
(Posted 9/11, 10:55pm) "Just a little update since I posted this. Buffalo Wild Wings has decided to cooperate with the Police investigation and has fired the employee."
So BWW had to get major bad publicity on facebook, numerous phone calls from outraged citizens, and the threat of legal action and media publicity before they would do anything about the incident. Then they lied to the media that the manager was helpful from the start!
Anne K.
September 13, 2012 at 9:32 am
DID HE GET A FINE OR SOMETHING FOR DOING IT?
Benjamin S.
September 12, 2012 at 10:50 pm
