Famous pizza chain draws flak as unexpected guests chip their food away

As dining out and delivery become staples of modern living, restaurants should maintain impeccable hygiene standards.

However, a recent incident at a popular pizza chain left customers squawking in disgust and disbelief.


A video taken at a Crust Pizza branch in Sydney's Neutral Bay recently went viral as it captured a scene that ruffled diners' feathers.

In the video, a trio of pigeons pecked away at the shop's pizza toppings on display.

The birds were freely nibbling on the items, with no staff in sight to shoo them away or keep the food safe.


compressed-crust pizza.jpeg
Three pigeons feasted on a Crust Pizza branch's toppings display. Image Credit: TikTok/Charles Spalton


Several patrons took to social media and shared their disappointment towards the chain.

'Never eating Crust pizza again,' one comment read.

'That's my last Crust order ever!' another patron exclaimed in the comments section.


However, some customers found humour in the situation.

One jokingly suggested a new menu item called the 'Peri peri pigeon'.

Another claimed that the birds were 'spicing up for the Crust hot wings'.

While met with jest, the majority of responses indicated a severe concern for food safety and hygiene practices.

This incident raised questions about the standards expected from food providers.


In a recent article, the NSW Food Authority released a list of restaurants that have violated food safety practices and standards.

Fast food chains and upscale establishments faced fines for food contamination, lack of cleanliness, and other compliance failures.

As of writing, Crust Pizza has yet to respond to the video.

Watch the video here:

Source: @charlesspalton/TikTok

This incident is a stark reminder always to be vigilant about where we choose to dine.

It's a call for all food establishments to review their hygiene protocols and ensure that their standards meet both regulatory requirements and the customers' expectations.
Key Takeaways

  • A video of pigeons eating ingredients at a Crust Pizza store in Neutral Bay recently went viral.
  • The video showed the birds feasting on the pizzeria's toppings with no staff in sight.
  • Some customers expressed their disgust over the lack of food safety regulations and declared they would no longer eat at the establishment.
  • The NSW Food Authority recently listed down restaurants that have violated food safety standards, which included both hole-in-the-wall places and upscale venues.
Have you had a similar experience at a restaurant or fast food chain? How did it affect your perception of the brand? Share your thoughts and experiences with us in the comments below.
 
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Not so hard to put a lid on food containers. Surprised nobody there very rare to see an empty store nowadays
 
Bird flu is a scam? Just who would benefit from this 'so called' scam please? 🐦
Found this which may answer your question.

The authorities may be using this ginned-up animal pandemic for several reasons, none of them good:

  • To gain greater control over how food can be produced and sold;
  • To push out small farmers, for whom imposing new “biosecurity” measures on their farms will be too expensive to stay in business. Many Dutch farmers have had to sell their farms, as more environmental regulations were imposed on them, and this may be the plan;
  • To reduce the food supply with unnecessary culls;
  • To keep the population fearful (see PETA advertisement example below);

  • To make synthetic foods more desirable;
  • To push the false notion that pandemics arise at the animal-human interface, and this interface should receive more attention and regulation;
  • To generate support for the WHO ‘One Health’ approach;
  • To generate support for the Global Biosecurity Agenda, the WHO Pandemic Treaty and similar rorts.
Furthermore, pandemics are good business for the pandemic industry, especially the vaccine industry and activists like PETA.

Pandemics also increase the power and status of many bureaucrats scattered throughout WHO, UN, USA, EU and other impacted countries, including Australia. And, of course, they generate funding for public health agencies worldwide.
 
  • Wow
Reactions: Nevertiki
Now that Asian Bird Flu is on the rise, these birds could be carriers.
Saw pigeons walking/flying about in the Sunshine Plaza Maroochydore Foodhall yesterday. Knowing just how much dust etc. can be dropped off their wings, it is a worry.
Not only droppings from their wings what about other droppings but like they say''don't complain when you get extras'' yak
 
Now that Asian Bird Flu is on the rise, these birds could be carriers.
Saw pigeons walking/flying about in the Sunshine Plaza Maroochydore Foodhall yesterday. Knowing just how much dust etc. can be dropped off their wings, it is a worry.
It's not just dust off their wings you have to worry about.....they are renowned for dropping a great load of other things when they are around. :unsure:
 
It didn’t affect me at all, because it was a simple mistake of leaving the door opened, and they cleaned it up straight away, shut the door cleaned it up straight away, disinfected everything before they sold any more pizzas so people should stop sensationalising the whole thing. I think everybody can make a mistake and they went about it the right way. I would certainly go and buy their pizzas without a problem.
 
  • Like
Reactions: gbaerken
Found this which may answer your question.

The authorities may be using this ginned-up animal pandemic for several reasons, none of them good:

  • To gain greater control over how food can be produced and sold;
  • To push out small farmers, for whom imposing new “biosecurity” measures on their farms will be too expensive to stay in business. Many Dutch farmers have had to sell their farms, as more environmental regulations were imposed on them, and this may be the plan;
  • To reduce the food supply with unnecessary culls;
  • To keep the population fearful (see PETA advertisement example below);

  • To make synthetic foods more desirable;
  • To push the false notion that pandemics arise at the animal-human interface, and this interface should receive more attention and regulation;
  • To generate support for the WHO ‘One Health’ approach;
  • To generate support for the Global Biosecurity Agenda, the WHO Pandemic Treaty and similar rorts.
Furthermore, pandemics are good business for the pandemic industry, especially the vaccine industry and activists like PETA.

Pandemics also increase the power and status of many bureaucrats scattered throughout WHO, UN, USA, EU and other impacted countries, including Australia. And, of course, they generate funding for public health agencies worldwide.
PETA....say no more. A bunch of quasi militant psychopaths masquerading as animal activists.

Almost reaching the depths of Hezbollah and Hamas.
 
  • Like
Reactions: DLHM
These guys have tried their hardest to keep these birds out and now they have had to keep their doors closed all the time to keep them out. They have talked to Council to find out what can be done. Don't ruin these poor guys business because of an incident that they couldn't help, and they had to throw away hundreds of dollars of food because of this, so don't be stupid, of cause you didn't get food that had been touched by the Pigeons.
 
If this was not a first for this shop why wasn't the food covered immediately it was placed out with the stainless steel covers used as seen on t.v.?
Where were staff, knowing this is an ongoing problem with doors open?
Leaving the doors open as they were wouldn't be a problem if plastic streamers were placed in the door opening.
What about an artificial chicken hawk placed on the street sign outside to scare those pigeons away?
 
  • Like
Reactions: DLHM
Well bird flu is a scam but that aside, the plaza at Maroochydore is semi open air. You will always get birds coming into those places. Food should be stored in covered containers or in expressly created "showcases" with sliding doors on the back so they are protected from contamination. I'm surprised there not that type of door on pizza topping food storage area.
Can you tell us how bird flu is a scam, please? You have made the statement now back it up with facts or are you still down the conspiracy theory rabbit hole?
 
That particular pizza place needs air conditioning, keep the door shut and have the prepared topping enclosed in a glass display. Makes sense to me.

Makes me wonder if there are other fast food places in that location and if do, how they keep the local birds out. Or do they?
If birds can get to it, I hate to think what other pests can....! 🤮
 
That pizza place needs a Council inspection and several fines !!! Disgusting and unacceptable 🥵
 
  • Like
Reactions: Ezzy
ABSOLUTELY DISGUSTING!!! Hope this place was reported to the Health Department. Sure as heck wouldn't go within 100 kms of this place !!
 
  • Like
Reactions: Ezzy
SEVERE health issues, two of them are standing in the food!!! But seriously funny to see pigeons helping themselves!! This would be easily remedied if the server had sliding doors to close.
They could also try those clear plastic streamers on the front door or a glass sliding door so that the birds & ( flys in summer) could not get in - in the 1st place.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Littleboy8
They could also try those clear plastic streamers on the front door or a glass sliding door so that the birds & ( flys in summer) could not get in - in the 1st place.
Yeah we had those they were great do they still sell them I wonder 😊
 

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