The Brief
- Insects in a takeout box prompted a restaurant to voluntarily shut down.
- Inspectors found food in a warm cooler, low water temperatures, and flies.
- The owner cited a blown transformer causing equipment issues.
OCONOMOWOC, Wis. – A startling discovery in a Chinese takeout box from Emperor’s Garden in Oconomowoc has prompted the restaurant where it came from to voluntarily shut down.
Waukesha County Environmental Health inspectors found violations this week. It all stems from a man who reached out to Waukesha County – and to FOX6 News – with pictures of bugs in his meal last Saturday.
Violations found
What To Know:
He ordered through DoorDash and said he found ‘winged insects’ and larvae inside the food container. Waukesha County did an inspection on Tuesday and noted several violations. Inspectors said the food inside Emperor’s Garden was stored in a cooler that was too warm. It all got thrown out. There were also problems with the water temperature at hand and equipment washing stations not being hot enough. Other violations involved the front door being left open without a screen – and “evidence of flies throughout the restaurant.”
FOX6 News reached out to the owner by email and telephone but has not heard back yet. The owner told inspectors that a new city transformer blew several fuses at the restaurant on Sept. 29 and caused the air conditioning, oven and freezer to have issues. The owner voluntarily closed Emperor’s Garden until the county can verify the water heater and coolers can maintain proper temperatures. Pictures were shown to customers, who said it made them feel sick.…