Rodents invade KFC and Taco Bell restaurant

(24 Feb 2007) 1. Wide tilt exterior Kentucky Fried Chicken - Taco Bell restaurant with people in front of window at 6th Avenue and 4th Street in Greenwich Village 2. Various medium and close up shots of multiple rats inside of restaurant, UPSOUND to hear comments of people at window, including "All you can eat, once the store is locked!" 3. Wide tilt exterior Kentucky Fried Chicken with press outside 4. Interior of restaurant 5. SOUNDBITE: (English) voxpop "I think it's really nasty, they need to change that or clean that or do something because its not probably the only store that has that problem, like, (not) the only fast food restaurant that has that problem. There's probably more out there and we just don't know." 6. SOUNDBITE: (English) voxpop "It is disgusting. Right. I mean mice are supposed to be on the outside. Rats are on the outside. So if there's rats inside you got a real serious problem. You got to cover your garbage going out, you got to cover your food going in." 7. Notice on door of restaurant, declaring restaurant closed by the Commissioner of Health and Mental Hygiene STORYLINE: A dozen rats were caught on video scurrying around the floor of a New York City KFC/Taco Bell restaurant early on Friday, running between counters and tables and climbing on children's high chairs. Word spread after a TV crew discovered the rat infestation on Friday morning and filmed it through a window of the restaurant, which was closed. By midmorning, the footage was all over the Internet and television news shows, with onlookers giving a play-by-play from the sidewalk as the rodents moved about. Health inspectors arrived at the scene to inspect the restaurant and declared the restaurant closed. The parent company for KFC and Taco Bell, Yum Brands, Inc., were once again forced into damage-control just months after enduring an E. coli outbreak in the region. "This is completely unacceptable and is an absolute violation of our high standards," KFC and Taco Bell said in a statement. "This restaurant has been closed and we are addressing the issue with the franchise owner. We will not allow this store to reopen until is it completely resanitised and given a clean bill of health," the statement continued. The statement gave no excuse for the restaurants condition - but it said construction in the basement on Thursday had "temporarily escalated the situation." The company assured the franchise owner "is actively addressing this issue," adding that the restaurant will remain closed until the problem is resolved. Rats have long been a problem in densely populated New York City, but it is rare to see so many rats in one place. Spokesperson for the New York city Department of Health Sara Markt, confirmed inspectors were at the scene. Markt revealed the restaurant had passed inspection in December - but a violation was issued to the restaurant owner over "evidence of rats" which referred only to rat excrement at the time. The owner of the franchise is listed with the department as ADF Fifth Operating Corp, Markt said. ADF Fifth Operating Corp could not be reached for comment. Taco Bell sales have slumped since last year's E. coli scare, in which more than 70 East Coast customers became ill. Federal officials said lettuce was the most likely source, and the company has changed suppliers. Keyword-animals wacky Keyword-environment Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork Twitter:   / ap_archive   Facebook:   / aparchives   ​​ Instagram:   / apnews   You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/you...