Little Caesars in Palm Beach County closed after rat droppings found in dough, health department says

A Little Caesars restaurant in Lantana, Florida, was closed for a day after health inspectors found rodent contamination in pizza dough. The Lantana location, a coastal town in Palm Beach County about 40 miles north of Fort Lauderdale, faced seven health-code violations during an inspection conducted on December 8, according to the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulations (DBPR).

The DBPR said four of the violations were high priority, meaning they could directly contribute to a foodborne illness or injury. Inspectors reported that employees prepared pizza dough using a mix that had been gnawed on by rodents. In the same inspection, investigators documented about 50 rat droppings in boxes and in storage and prep areas associated with the dough mix. Approximately 10 droppings were found inside a box containing deep-dish dough mix, which was stored under the area where the dough is prepared. Officials described more than 30 additional droppings in and around boxes containing deep-dish dough sheets, along with six droppings on a table near the restaurant’s freezer. In addition to vermin-related concerns, kitchen surfaces used to make the pizza bore a mold-like substance or slime.

Other infractions included a broken towel dispenser at the handwashing sink and a container without a handle used to dispense cheese in the pizza prep area. Both issues were corrected on-site, according to the DBPR. The restaurant was shuttered until all breaches were corrected, and the department said the site met inspection standards and was able to operate again on December 9.

The Daily Mail reported on the inspection findings and noted that the Lantana store was able to resume normal operations the day after the inspection once it had addressed the violations. The outlet said staff would not immediately comment on the incident.

Health regulators have long used inspections to identify and address issues that could affect food safety at quick-service restaurants. The Lantana case underscores ongoing oversight of chain eateries and the potential for rapid corrective action when violations are identified.

Past incidents involving rodent contamination at fast-food eateries have occurred in other markets. In 2018, a customer at a Little Caesars in Indianapolis claimed he found mice droppings baked into a pizza, prompting health department action and a temporary closure for that location. In the same year, a Domino’s location in Johnson City, Tennessee, faced public scrutiny after a photo circulated online showing rodent contamination; officials said the issue was isolated and the store was cleared to reopen after corrective steps were taken. The episodes illustrate how nearby outbreaks can temporarily disrupt brand operations and trigger regulatory reviews, even as chains work to implement corrective measures and prevent recurrence.