UPDATE: Rodents Close KFC in Palm Springs

KFC temporarily closes following complaint of rodent droppings

PALM SPRINGS — KFC, 725 S. Palm Canyon Drive, was temporarily closed Wednesday, Oct. 5 due to a rodent infestation, according to the Riverside County Department of Environmental Health.

The official reason for the closing was: “Rodent infestation. An inspector visited in response to a complaint that someone thought they saw rodent droppings in their coleslaw. The inspector saw multiple droppings, including under a prep counter, the grease tanks and a soda machine. Among other violations, there were also flies inside, and the inspector noted food debris and grease on the floors.”

KFC received the following grade: 86/B, failing.

About 1:30 p.m. Friday, a re-inspection was in order to verify that the facility had eliminated all rodent activity within the facility, according to a newly released report from the Riverside County Department of Environmental Health.

“At (the) time of the re-inspection no evidence of any rodent and or insect activity was observed in this facility,” according to the report.

The inspector observed three pest control reports from Western Pest Control, dated October 5th ,6th and 7th, that stated no rodent and or insect activity found in this facility.

The report stated that debris found on the floor during their pest control treatment came from dead insects (Elder Bugs).

The restaurant is allowed to be reopened and the “Closed Food Facility ” signs have been removed.

The facility is open.

It marks the second time in less than a month that the Riverside County Department of Environmental Health has shuttered a Coachella Valley eatery.

In September, Upper Crust Pizza, 67555 E. Palm Canyon Drive, was closed temporarily due to a cockroach infestation.

The inspector found one live roach on a cooler near a prepared pizza, two more on the floor by a food-prep area and multiple dead roaches on the floor and behind equipment, according to the health report. Among other violations, multiple containers of food were at unsafe temperatures in a cooler that wasn’t keeping cold, and equipment, walls and floors needed cleaning.

Since 1963 the Riverside County Department of Environmental Health has been issuing grades to any food facility that handles open food. Food facilities such as restaurants, bakeries, delis and bars receive unannounced inspections throughout the year and are issued a grade after each one of those inspections. The grade that a facility receives must be posted in a publicly viewable area, usually near the front door or front register.

A permanent food establishment that handles open foods receive a grade at the end of an inspection.  The score of the inspection represents the grade.  There are only three possible grades that a facility can receive during an inspection.  Unlike the grades you received in school, an “A” grade is the only passing grade that a facility can get.   Grades of “B” and “C”, also known as “Downgrades,” means the facility did not meet minimum health standards and is required to correct the violations and be re-inspected to an “A” grade.