Mexican Restaurant Under Fire For Serving Reused Chips & Salsa

Most everyone knows that indulging in a Mexican restaurant’s free chips and salsa is the only way to warm your stomach up for the enchiladas or taquitos that are to come.

Residents of Michigan may want to keep away from the tortilla basket, though. A Mexican restaurant in South Haven, MI is being called out for serving its customers reused and recycled food.

Facebook user Kristie Bowie posted a lengthy PSA, alerting her friends and followers that Su Casa restaurant does not throw away their chips, salsa and other food items after left on customers’ plates. Bowie writes, “My daughter recently got a job at this establishment and has worked about a week as a busser. She was told not to throw away the salsa, chips, etc that come back that ‘looked’ like they haven’t been touched! She did not feel comfortable with this so asked the owner if it was true. He said is was true so she put her notice in and worked her shift.”

Though the post seems like a personal attack, or simply a mother defending her daughter, her claims hold true. Former Su Casa employee Anthony Rigozzi confirmed that the restaurant doesn’t keep up with normal food safety regulations.

“They will have used meat out and just hang it back up after the health department tells them to take it down,” he told West Michigan’s WWMT. “They will put it right back up as soon as they leave.”

Even the restaurant owner himself couldn’t hide the fact that he recycles food. “I thought it was okay and the health department said it’s not possible, you cannot do that,” Edgar Suarez, who has owned the restaurant for six years, told the station. “I didn’t realize that even if people did not touch them or they were still in the tray, I thought everything was good.”

In the past, Su Casa has received a citation for a malfunctioning dishwasher and “exposed roast pork.” To remedy the current situation, Suarez explains they’ll now ask customers if they want chips and salsa, to avoid confusion, and will stop serving pre-served items.

We’re all for reducing food waste, but not so much for being served leftover germs on a plate. Keep calm and carry hand sanitizer, mi gente!