A video showing an employee cutting meat on the pavement outside a restaurant in Lawrence, Kansas, has sparked widespread concern over food safety practices. The footage, which quickly gained attention on social media, shows a worker at the Lawrence-based restaurant Try Aqui chopping raw meat on the concrete, drawing criticism from viewers who questioned the hygiene standards of the establishment. The incident caught the eye of both local customers and state health inspectors, prompting an official response from the Kansas Department of Agriculture.
Video Raises Concerns
The video was recorded by Greg and Jennifer Walk-ins, who were driving by the Try Aqui restaurant on Saturday when they witnessed the unusual sight. The couple, initially shocked by what they saw, decided to capture the moment on camera.
The video shows a man, presumably an employee of the restaurant, cutting up what appeared to be raw meat directly on the pavement outside the restaurant’s back door. In the footage, the worker is seen handling the meat with his hands and a knife, placing the chopped pieces into a container, with no visible cutting board or other proper surfaces used for food preparation.
Jennifer Walk-in, speaking to reporters, described the scene as “gut-wrenching,” stating that the worker was “chopping meat on concrete” without any apparent regard for hygiene.
The video quickly went viral, receiving thousands of shares on social media, and soon after, the Kansas Department of Agriculture was alerted to the situation. The department acted swiftly, dispatching inspectors to the restaurant to conduct an inspection and ensure that the restaurant was complying with food safety regulations.
Restaurant Responds
In response to the video and the growing public outcry, the owners of Try Aqui issued a statement explaining the context of the incident. According to the restaurant, the meat being cut outside was raw pork, and the worker was preparing the meat for personal use, not for sale or consumption by customers.
The employee, the owners clarified, had been breaking up the meat for use at home, not as part of the restaurant’s regular operations. This clarification, however, did little to calm public concerns about the sanitation of food handling practices, especially considering the proximity to the restaurant and its operations.
The restaurant’s owner also explained that the meat was not intended for customer consumption. The pork was reportedly cooked separately from the food served to customers, and any equipment used to prepare the meat was cleaned thoroughly following the incident.
Additionally, the restaurant reassured the public that all health protocols were being followed in the restaurant’s kitchen, which was fully equipped with proper food handling tools and surfaces. Despite this explanation, the incident raised serious questions about whether such practices could be allowed, even if the meat was for personal consumption and not for customers.
Health Inspectors Involved
The Kansas Department of Agriculture’s response was prompt. Inspectors conducted a special Sunday visit to the restaurant to investigate the situation. They found no violations of food safety regulations at the time of their inspection, as the meat in question was not intended for sale and was being prepared for personal use.
However, health inspectors provided the owners with guidance on food safety best practices, emphasizing that while the incident did not directly violate regulations, it still raised significant concerns about hygiene and food safety standards.
In particular, inspectors advised the restaurant to ensure that no food preparation occurs outside the restaurant in areas that are not specifically designated for food handling. They also recommended additional education for staff regarding proper food safety protocols, particularly around raw meat handling.
To address the immediate issue, Try Aqui took several steps to reassure customers, including cleaning and sanitizing the area where the meat had been cut, as well as all knives and equipment used in the process.
Employee’s Job Status
Despite the negative publicity surrounding the incident, the restaurant confirmed that the employee involved in the incident would retain his position. However, the restaurant owners made it clear that the employee had been instructed that cutting meat for personal use outside the restaurant was unacceptable and that such behavior would not be tolerated in the future.
The owners stated that they had emphasized the importance of adhering to proper food handling protocols both in the restaurant and outside it.
While the incident did not result in any immediate action against the employee, the restaurant’s handling of the situation has been met with mixed reactions. Some have praised the owners for acting quickly to address the concerns raised by the video, while others remain skeptical about the restaurant’s overall commitment to food safety standards. Given the viral nature of the video, the restaurant has faced considerable scrutiny, but it remains hopeful that the incident will not significantly damage its reputation.
Conclusion
The video of an employee cutting meat on the pavement outside Try Aqui has highlighted potential gaps in food safety practices at the restaurant, even though no violations were identified during the Kansas Department of Agriculture’s inspection. The incident has raised important questions about food safety, hygiene, and the role of social media in holding businesses accountable for their practices.
While the restaurant’s owners have made efforts to address the situation, including cleaning and educating staff, the controversy is likely to linger, serving as a cautionary tale about the importance of maintaining high standards of food safety in all aspects of restaurant operations.
