Cockroaches and rodent droppings found in the kitchens of some Domino's Pizza joints in Peru have caused the company to temporarily shut operations in the country, the chain said.
Domino's troubles began after a customer in Lima complained of an unwanted ingredient - the crisped torso of a roach - among the pepperoni and cheese on the steaming pizza he ordered for delivery last week.
After posting the pie on social networks, the image went viral, generating torrents of criticism and prompting the Health Ministry to visit several of the American chain's Lima locations.
Authorities found roaches in the kitchen at the chain's Camacho neighborhood store, where the viral pizza originated, plus poor sanitary conditions, a video released to the press showed.
On Monday, another health team found rodent droppings in the kitchen of another location.
Following the incidents, and amid a barrage of criticism, Domino's Peru franchise said on Monday it was temporarily closing all of its locations in the country.
"During this temporary closure we will carry out an audit of all our processes and facilities, via an independent and specialized body, so we can give greater assurance about our products and services when we reopen," Domino's Peruvian branch said in a statement.
The pizza chain's US headquarters said it was "shocked and appalled by the situation, which is unacceptable on many levels.
"We are taking this situation very seriously and are addressing this directly with the independent franchise owner in Peru," it said in a statement sent to AFP.
The customer who found the roach said the Domino store that delivered the pizza called to complain he was "hurting the company."
The pizza chain employs some 500 people and produces one million pizzas a year in Peru, according to Domino's in Lima.
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