A Chinese takeaway boss has apologised after a rat was filmed scampering around an open container of raw chicken.
The rodent was almost given a free meal at Jin Ocean in Hull when two large tubs of meat were placed invitingly on the patio by an employee.
The manager said it was a mistake to put the chicken outside while the kitchen was being cleaned.
In the video, the rat can be seen poking its head out from underneath a fence before appearing near the uncooked poultry.
Another container of what appears to be rice was also left exposed.
Jin Ocean’s manager said the employee had been sacked and he was ‘very sorry to our customers’.
He said: ‘We will never, ever do it again. It was a mistake and he has been sacked.
‘The rats have come from my neighbour’s garden. He has grass one-metre high and I have complained to him about it, and he then took a video when the food was outside for two minutes.
‘That member of staff who did it has already gone. We never put chicken outside and we will never do it again. Our kitchen is an open kitchen and it is very clean.
‘I have been here 16 years, and anyone can see my kitchen is clean. I am quite sad.’
Despite the slip up, Jin Ocean scored three out of five for food hygiene when it was visited on February 25.
Inspectors for Hull City Council gave the rating which means ‘generally satisfactory’.
Food hygiene and safety was given a ‘fair’ rating while ‘confidence in management’ was rated as ‘some’.
The takeaway’s website says it specialises in authentic Chinese cuisine, stating: ‘Our chefs are well known for their excellent Chinese cuisine, when it comes to food we are experts in choosing the colour, aroma, flavour and taste.
‘We believe food is not only taste but also a work of art for its aesthetic value.’
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