Golden Corral Video Shows Food Stored Next To Dumpster To Avoid Health Inspection

A Golden Corral video from Florida shows a restaurant hiding trays of food — including raw meat — next to a dumpster to avoid being seen by a health inspector. The whistleblowing employee who recorded the video claims the food would later be served to customers.

The Golden Corral video shows uncovered trays of hamburger meat sitting on a ledge directly next to the dumpster, with the employee noting that they are covered in flies. A few feet away sits with more prepared food and behind it a container of uncooked baby back ribs sits uncovered.

“I’m an employee, I’ve been working here for a long time and I don’t think this is right,” the employee of the Port Orange restaurant says.

The video of Golden Corral hiding food by the dumpster has only a few hundred views at time of publication, but it is making the rounds online. It was quickly voted as the top of the link-sharing site Reddit, with commenters disgusted at the conditions seen.

The person who uploaded the video to YouTube, who does not appear to be the same employee seen taking the video, said a complaint was filed but so far no action had been taken.

“its been over a week now since this has been brought to corporate attention, I contacted the volusia county health dept….. they dont handle it…. they gave me a number and a persons name….. said to ask for them in person…… the operator didnt know who i was talkin about and didnt seem to care.”

This isn’t the first time a Golden Corral has gotten into trouble with its food. In December a restaurant in Wyoming was suspected of causing a food poisoning outbreak that sickened dozens of people. More than 150 cases of foodborne illness were reported near Casper, Wyoming, prompting a visit from health officials.

The outbreak was accompanied by reports of unsanitary conditions at the Golden Corral. One customer said he found a stack of 25 plates in the buffet line, all of them dirty and encrusted with remains of food. News of the food poisoning outbreak also prompted other diners to air their grievances on Yelp.

“The floors were so dirty,” one reviewer wrote, while another complained of “raw, undercooked meatloaf and chicken.”

David Giesen, president of franchisee Golden DBL Inc. of Denver, said the Wyoming incident caused Golden Corral to double down on its safety and sanitary procedures.

The person who uploaded the Golden Corral video to YouTube claimed he alerted the owner that food was being stored next to the dumpster to avoid health inspectors, but the owner was dismissive of the claims.

UPDATE: Golden Corral has released a statement concerning the video. Eric Holm of Metro Corral Partners states:

“A video was recently posted showing an incident of improper food handling at our Port Orange, Florida location. None of these items were served to a single customer. All were destroyed within the hour at the direction of management. Brandon Huber, the employee who made the video, participated in the disposal of the food.

The following day, the father of the employee, posted an offer to sell the video for $5,000, which was not accepted.

The manager involved in the improper storage was terminated for failing to follow approved food handling procedures.”