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A meal at McDonald’s is probably the last place where customers expect to see rats running across tables. Yet, a customer appears to have captured exactly that on camera at an outlet in Gujarat. A video circulating on social media shows two rats moving across tables and chairs inside a McDonald’s restaurant. The rodents can be seen running through the seating area where customers normally sit and eat. The McCafé sign and menu visible in the background helped identify the location as a McDonald’s outlet.

Where Was the Video Filmed?

According to Rajkot Municipal Corporation (RMC) Health Officer Dr Jayesh Vankani, officials traced the video to the McDonald’s outlet near Greenland Chokdi in Rajkot. After the footage surfaced online, the RMC Health Department reportedly inspected the outlet. During questioning, the outlet manager reportedly told officials that the rats had entered from a construction site next to the restaurant. However, the footage has raised questions about how rodents entered a customer-facing area and whether adequate pest-control measures were in place.

Why Are Rats Inside a Restaurant a Food Safety Concern?

Rodents are more than an unpleasant sight in a food establishment. They can contaminate food, utensils and surfaces through urine, droppings and direct contact. Their presence can also indicate gaps in pest control, sanitation or structural maintenance. When rodents enter areas where food is handled, or customers eat, they can create a potential food-safety risk. The Rajkot incident comes as another rodent-related case has drawn attention in Mumbai.

Another Rodent Case at a Mumbai Dark Store

Earlier this week, Maharashtra’s Food and Drug Administration (FDA) said it had suspended the licence of M/s Swinsta ENT Private Limited, a Swiggy Instamart dark store in Ballard Estate, South Mumbai. According to the FDA, officials found a live rat in the store’s handling area during an inspection. They also reportedly found several 10-kg rice bags gnawed open by rodents, along with rodent droppings in storage areas.

Together, the two incidents highlight the importance of effective pest control and hygiene at establishments where food is stored, handled or served. Meanwhile, the video from the Rajkot McDonald’s outlet continues to circulate online, prompting questions about the measures restaurants should take to keep rodents away from food and customer areas.

Source: The Times of India