Employees at a Wendy's fast-food outlet in Louisiana are raising the alarm over dire working conditions, claiming they are forced to operate amidst pervasive black mould, a collapsing wall, and chronic flooding, with their repeated pleas for help falling on deaf ears.
A Kitchen Plagued by Filth and Fungus
Shift managers at the Wendy's branch near the Tanger Outlet Mall, just off Interstate 10 in Ascension Parish, have spoken out about severe and persistent cleanliness issues. According to an investigation by WBRZ News, the problems have plagued the restaurant for months, creating an unsafe environment for both workers and customers.
Manager Heather Messer described the location as "a complete wreck," while her colleague Lisa Bowlin stated the conditions are "keeping us all sick, but we still have to come into work." In a bid to highlight their concerns, the two women invited reporter Brittany Weiss from WBRZ to tour the premises.
During the visit, Weiss was shown disturbing unsanitary conditions, primarily in the kitchen. Black mould was visibly spotting the ceiling, walls, and the undersides of crucial equipment used to prepare burgers and fries. The mould was reportedly forming rapidly beneath the sandwich station, with staff claiming that bleach is no longer effective at stopping its spread.
Leaking Roof Causes Cascading Hazards
The root of many issues appears to be a severely leaking roof. The managers told WBRZ that during a recent rainstorm, water seeped through ceiling tiles and light fixtures, dripping onto security cameras and staff below. Footage revealed rainwater pooling across the kitchen floor, forming deep puddles that ran beneath cooking equipment.
The office space is equally affected. Computers, including the one linked to the security system, are wrapped in tightly tied garbage bags to protect them from water damage, while employees' personal belongings are stashed in a small cubby to keep them dry.
The persistent water damage is now causing structural failures. Staff reported that just last week, a wall behind the drink station suddenly collapsed and remains lodged between machines, adding to the dangers.
Warnings to Corporate Ignored
Despite the escalating hazards, the workers claim a solution is frustratingly out of reach. They say dozens of warnings to the branch's operator, Haza Foods, about the deteriorating conditions have been met with silence.
Messer, who has been in her role for four months, admitted she constantly worries about product quality, as every red flag she has raised has been refused attention. Bowlin expressed a bleak view of the operator's priorities: "The way I feel, they're not worried about our health. It's more the money situation that they're worried about."
Although the Louisiana Department of Health has inspected the restaurant multiple times, most recently in November, and addressed some violations, the managers insist the core problems of filth and hazard continue to linger within the store.
Daily Mail has contacted both Wendy's corporate and Haza Foods for comment.
