Have you ever bought something from the grocery store, only for it to go bad sooner than you’d expect? This may be the reason why.
A user on TikTok, who claims to be a former Walmart employee, says that his store improperly stored perishable food. The store is located in Hancock Village in Chesterfield, Virginia.
A video revealing this information currently has over 459,000 views.
What’s Wrong With This Walmart Location?
In his video, TikToker Michael Mayo (@dtwtc223) shows boxes upon boxes of produce and other items at Walmart that he claims should be refrigerated. However, the store has left the items unrefrigerated.
“This food been out all day long,” he says. “This the s*** that they put on the shelves and sell to y’all.”
As the video progresses, he shows various boxes displaying temperature requirements. For example, one box says its contents must be kept between 33 and 40 degrees Fahrenheit.
Mayo then places a thermometer inside a single bag of salad. It reads at over 60 degrees Fahrenheit.
“They don’t care about y’all, for real,” he states. He later adds, “That’s why people be getting sick.”
Is This Really Dangerous?
Many states have laws regulating the temperatures at which certain foods must be held.
For example, in many cases, the state of Virginia mandates that refrigerated food have a starting temperature of 41°F (5°C) or colder when workers take it out of temperature control. Depending on the food, workers may leave it outside of temperature control for four to six hours.
If it’s left out of temperature control for longer than this time, or if it reaches a temperature exceeding 70ºF (21ºC), workers must discard the item. Some recommend a shorter time, usually two hours.
This is important to slow bacterial growth and prevent customers from getting sick. Given that the food Mayo tested was below 70ºF, and that it’s unclear how long it has been left out, it’s not certain that Walmart violated the law.
What Happened To This Walmart Worker?
Mayo states that he was “wrongfully terminated” from his position at Walmart after the recording of this video.
According to Mayo, his termination was related to both his concerns about this issue, as well as his refusal to perform a task he describes as “completely outside of my job description.”
Whether Mayo was truly wrongfully terminated is a matter for courts to decide. In a subsequent post, Mayo reveals that the task he was asked to perform was unloading a produce and meat department truck, even though he was employed as a cleaner.
The Case For Wrongful Termination
Mayo claims that the previous cleaner was not asked to do this and was female. Consequently, he states he was discriminated against because of his gender.
As Virginia has at-will employment, Walmart can fire workers for almost any reason. However, if Mayo can prove that he was discriminated against because of his gender, he may have a valid wrongful termination case. Additionally, if he claimed he was fired for whistle-blowing about the store’s food storage practices, he may also be protected.
Mayo showed in a later post that he contested his firing. That said, Walmart said that it reviewed what happened and “determined the original decision will stand.”
@dtwtc223 Wrongfully terminated Walmart employee speaks out about Walmarts improper handling with food and safety which put thousands of customers lives in danger by intentionally selling spoiled products. Store #4476 ♬ original sound – dtwtc223
Commenters Are Shocked
In the comments section, many users were taken aback by what they perceived to be wrongful action on the part of Walmart.
“That’s why the bag salad be cold but brown inside,” wrote a user.
“Should have called the health department. I work produce in a major grocery chain and it’s considered perishable and should be in the cooler under 40 degrees,” noted another.
“This is happening everywhere. Employees aren’t paid enough to care. Not only is it safer to eat at home but now you got to grow it yourself too,” stated a third.
The Mary Sue reached out to Walmart via media relations contact form, and Mayo via TikTok direct message and email.
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