The inspector who shockingly gave a rat-infested KFC/Taco Bell franchise in Greenwich Village a clean bill of health the day before pictures of the mangy beasts scurrying around the dingy joint were shown in the media was taken off the job today.
The health inspector – whose name was not released – was “removed from restaurant inspection duty,” while the city’s health department reviews other inspections the staffer performed since being put on the job in June 2006, officials said.
“Our February 22 inspection of the KFC/Taco Bell was clearly not up to standard,” said Health Commissioner Thomas Frieden. “We are redoubling our efforts to ensure all inspections are conducted effectively.”
The city’s Department of Investigation is also reviewing the matter.
Meanwhile, health inspectors fanned out across the city to re-inspect the 20 other restaurants the franchise operator – ADF Operating Corp. of Fairfield, N.J. – owns.
The city’s department of health came under fire after it emerged that an inspector had passed the fast food restaurant last Thursday – a day before television news crews and newspaper photographers took pictures of filthy rodents brazenly wandering around the restaurant after it was closed.