Red Lobster Serves Food During Sewage Leak

A Red Lobster in Springettsbury Township, PA, is fielding criticism for serving food despite a sewage and graywater leak in its food preparation areas.

“For about 10 days, a broken pipe leaked sewage into Red Lobster's kitchen while cooks continued to serve up dish after dish of seafood. It took a complaint to the state Bureau of Food Safety and Laboratory Services to get the restaurant ... to shut down,” the York Daily Record reported, citing Will Nichols, a spokesman for the state.

Nichols described the infraction: "The food sanitarian found that Red Lobster staff failed to notify the department of sewer back-up for approximately the last 10 days in the food production areas, an imminent health hazard.”

The food inspection report said sewage and graywater were seeping into areas throughout the facility, and that plumbers and cooks were sharing the same space.

Among the violations a state inspector found, per ABC27: “Evidence of sewage water backup was observed throughout the facility; brown wet and dry mud-like substance found on floors throughout the kitchen, hallways, under refrigerators and equipment in the kitchen; surfaces were not washed, rinsed, and sanitized after the sewage backup and during the repairs; and the person in charge failed to notify the department of an imminent health hazard and cease operations.”

Red Lobster corporate spokeswoman Erica Ettori expressed disappointment about the circumstances, and said the local restaurant staff will be retrained.

"As a company, Red Lobster takes the safety and well-being of our guests very seriously, which is why every restaurant manager is required to pass the HACCP test and routinely participate in training on proper sanitation, safety and total quality techniques," Ettori said.

The restaurant passed a follow-up inspection and has since reopened, according to the York Dispatch.

Jerry Heisey, a former state food sanitarian who runs a food safety consulting business, weighed in on the dangers presented by the infraction.

“In this case, because plumbing is tied to the sewage system, there was a risk that airborne pathogens could get on food or food contact surfaces, Heisey said. That means those who ate at the restaurant during the past week or so ran an increased risk of getting sick from bacteria such as E. coli, Salmonella or Shigella,” the York Daily Record reported.

To read more about sewage leaks visit Water Online’s Sewers And Sewer Line Maintenance Solutions Center.