Company, staff at odds over reason for Pizza Hut closures

RESTAURANT Brands and a former Pizza Hut staff member are at odds over whether recent maintenance at a Dunedin store constitutes a food safety issue.

The South Dunedin restaurant was temporarily closed for ‘‘urgent maintenance’’ this week, days after former staff went public with claims of inadequate food safety practices at both of Dunedin’s Pizza Hut restaurants.

The problems prompted three staff to resign in protest and led to an ongoing investigation by the Ministry for Primary Industries.

Restaurant Brands was asked about the temporary closure of its South Dunedin store on Thursday, including whether it was related to recent coverage of food safety concerns in the city.

Restaurant Brands marketing general manager Geraldine Oldham, in an emailed statement, said a ‘‘routine audit’’ had identified the need to replace one piece of equipment.

‘‘This closure is not a result of MPI’s investigation,’’ she said.

That prompted former employee Hayley Bevin, who was among staff to quit over the food safety concerns, to challenge the company’s explanation yesterday.

In a social media post, she said the piece of equipment needing repair was the ‘‘make table’’, which holds the chicken and other ingredients used on pizzas.

The meat was being held at more than 5degC, which was an issue that had not been fixed since the previous audit, she said.

That made the temporary closure a food safety issue, despite the company’s earlier explanation, she said.

A Restaurant Brands spokeswoman said it was true the make table was being replaced.

However, it was not a food safety issue, she said.

‘‘The make table was replaced due to Pizza Hut brand standards. The Pizza Hut brand standards are more stringent than the NZ Food Act.’’

The store reopened on Thursday night.

❛ This closure is not a result of MPI’s investigation Geraldine Oldham