<p class="p1">Inspectors with the Louisiana Department of Health this week cited two stores at the Prien Lake Mall that were found to have rodent-related issues after being contacted by the <em>American Press</em> regarding a Facebook post about the mall. </p><p class="p1">In the post, which has been shared more than 225 times, Amy Miller of Lake Charles, wrote: “Upon leaving a central store to the food court at the Prien Lake Mall, I saw a giant rat.”</p><p class="p1">Carolyn Bombet, chief of field operations for the Louisiana Department of Health, said an inspector is sent to a location every time its department is notified of such a complaint. </p><p class="p1">“It is a critical enough issue that we send someone there to verify the complaint,” Bombet said. </p><p class="p1">“Critical violations can lead to illness or injury,” she said. “Non-critical violations, if left uncorrected can lead to critical situations.”</p><p class="p1">Inspectors on Wednesday issued what they called a “critical” citation to the Great American Cookie Company (not the food court location) for having “evidence of rodents” underneath a sink as well as “non-critical” citations for floors not being clean and issues with maintenance and plumbing. </p><p class="p1">Dick’s Sporting Goods was issued a “non-critical” citation by inspectors for having “rodent droppings in the snack food storage area” as well as a “hole in the wall located in the deer feed storage area.” </p><p class="p1">Nikki Buxton, a spokesperson for the Prien Lake Mall, sent a statement to the American Press which said: “Providing a safe, clean shopping and dining environment for our customers and mall employees is something we take very seriously. Prien Lake Mall requires that all restaurant tenants maintain records supporting proof that regular pest control services have been performed at their place of business.” </p><p class="p1">Buxton, who said the mall also has its own pest control service, said she and her team had walked the mall multiple times in the last few days and “did not see any evidence of rodents anywhere in the mall.” </p><p class="p1">Once inspectors find an issue, Bombet said a location is cited and the location is put “on notice.” She said if it is found to be a rampant issue, the building owner is notified. A location that continues to have a “critical issue” could receive fines and potentially be shut down if an issue is not rectified.</p><p class="p1">Bombet said when people have concerns about possible health violations at a restaurant or a store or facility that sells food, they can contact the Louisiana Department of Health to report the situation. </p><p class="p1">“We advise people to do that instead of posting on social media because there are times that a person might see a video or hear about something that happened two or three years ago and the issue has already been taken care of but they post it again and it spreads like wildfire,” Bombet said. </p><p class="p1">The Prien Lake Mall opened in 1972 and is owned by the Simon Property Group. </p>