McDonald’s in Fresno County closed after video shows mice, roaches allegedly in restaurant
Disturbing videos were released this week that claim to capture unsanitary conditions inside a Fresno County McDonald’s.
Posted on the Sanger Live Facebook page, the collection of short videos shows dead mice on the ground, another mouse running around and roaches near food with the footage allegedly taken at the McDonald’s restaurant located off Academy Avenue in Sanger.
“Sanger Live” founder Moses Esparza said all of the footage was recorded recently by McDonald’s employees who were disgusted by the fast-food restaurant’s conditions but feared to speak out because of concerns of losing their job.
“It’s gross — really, really gross,” said Esparza, a Sanger native who said he created Sanger Live to showcase what life is sometimes like in his home city. “A restaurant should never look like that. Makes me sick thinking of the times I’ve gotten food from that McDonald’s then seeing those videos.
“These employees, they were fed up with what they were seeing, but didn’t want to get in trouble. But (they) also felt that other people needed to know what they saw on a regular basis and what was being allowed.”
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The Fresno County Health Division said on Friday it was looking into the conditions of that Sanger McDonald’s. (There is one other McDonald’s in Sanger, on Jensen Avenue a few miles west of the Academy location.)
“We can confirm that claims were filed against the restaurant, and we are aware of the videos circulating that claim to show conditions of the place,” said a member of the Fresno County Health Division. “That is a facility that we do monitor from a health and safety standpoint. We are looking into the situation and cannot comment any further.”
On Friday, a day after the roaches and mice videos were posted, the McDonald’s on Academy was closed “due to maintenance,” according to a sign taped to the front door.
It was unclear how long the McDonald’s would remain closed.
A message left with McDonald’s corporate office was not immediately returned and no one picked up calls to the Sanger McDonald’s on Academy Avenue on Friday or Saturday morning.
Also shown in the videos and still photos that were posted on social media are: cups on the ground with the tops touching a filthy floor, large chunks of grease accumulated in the cooking area, and an overall unclean working area that would seem accessible only to McDonald’s employees.
Esparza said he’s received a lot of feedback from the videos of the McDonald’s conditions with many sharing their own “horror stories” and what they’ve noticed at the restaurant. Many Sanger residents expressed relief that the popular fast-food joint shut its doors Friday, even if temporarily, Esparza added.
“What’s sad is that building that the McDonald’s is in was remodeled like four, five years ago, and it’s already gotten so bad so fast,” Esparza said. “A lot of people had noticed it had gone downhill even before they saw the videos.”
This story was originally published June 4, 2022 at 9:34 AM.