Oporto shuts down Broadway store, says rat infestation was due to construction work
The chain says the store previously passed all sanitation inspections and met all health standards.
Oporto has closed their Broadway outlet, following footage uploaded to Facebook by a passerby who witnessed rats roaming around inside.
“Vermin appear to have been dislocated by external construction activity in the Broadway area, which can lead to increased activity for surrounding businesses – they appear to have accessed the Broadway restaurant via a ventilation hole, or other access point from outside,” a spokesperson said in a statement.
The fast food chain also had pest control officers confirm that the cause was “unrelated to the store’s sanitation standards” and no nest was found inside.
“Since then, the store has undergone a full decontamination and industrial cleaning process to ensure all surfaces are hygienic and safe. Our Quality Assurance team briefed officers from the City of Sydney Environmental Health, Food Safety Division, who will now assess both the restaurant and immediate surrounding area,” the statement added.
Their Broadway store will remain closed until the fast food chain and health inspectors are assured that the incident will not happen again.
“This incident is unrelated to any other Oporto store in Australia, which continue to maintain rigorous and high sanitation standards,” their spokesperson stressed.
