Dead rats found in Fort Worth elementary school cafeteria during health inspection
Two dead rats were found in a Fort Worth elementary school kitchen, according to a recent Tarrant County restaurant inspection report.
An inspector from Tarrant County Public Health noticed a “strong terrible odor” near the food line in the cafeteria at Cesar Chavez Elementary School, 3710 Deen Road, during the Oct. 4 inspection, the report said. A representative from the Fort Worth ISD environmental supervisor’s office arrived at the inspector’s request and found two dead rats in the motor area underneath a milk cooler, according to the report. The maintenance employee found the rats after removing the cooler and taking it apart outside.
School employees told the inspector they had thought the odor was mold and had poured bleach inside the motor area of the cooler to try to get rid of the smell, the report says.
According to the report, school employees were instructed to follow up with pest control and email copies of the pest control invoices or receipts to the health inspector.
According to Fort Worth ISD Chief of Operations Joseph Coburn an exterminator visited the school on Oct. 5, the morning after the inspection, and did not find “any conducive conditions” or evidence of a larger rodent problem in the kitchen.
“The District has a record of routine pest inspections at all of its campus kitchens, including Cesar Chavez Elementary School,” Coburn said. “We will continue to maintain all District kitchens, keep them clean, and follow protocols as directed by the Tarrant County Public Health.”
The school scored 3 demerits in the report. In Tarrant County, restaurants and other locations that serve food that receive more than 29 demerits require a followup inspection.
Here are the inspection scores and violations for restaurants that Tarrant County Public Health (TCPH) inspected for Oct. 2nd - Oct. 8th, 2022. TCPH inspects and scores all restaurants in Tarrant County except for those located in Fort Worth, Arlington, Euless and North Richland Hills. Scores are based on a demerit system. When the total exceeds 29, a follow-up inspection is required. To search the restaurant inspections, type in a keyword or restaurant name. You can also sort by score.
