Video Goes Viral of Pigeons Eating Ingredients Inside Sydney Crust Pizza Store

In a shocking scene that would leave health inspectors reeling, patrons spotted pigeons indulging to pizza ingredients inside popular venue, Crust Pizza. 

Customers felt disgusted after footage emerged of pigeons helping themselves to the restaurant’s toppings right off the counter at the Neutral Bay location of Crust, on Sydney’s lower north shore. 

A passerby uploaded a video to TikTok that has already racked up over 800,000 views as of Monday afternoon. 

The video captures three pigeons rummaging through trays of fresh ingredients with no staff members in sight. 

People quickly expressed their disgust over the video, with many declaring they would never set foot in the restaurant again.

Appalled Diners Vow to Boycott Crust After Pigeon Incident

“Never eating Crust pizza again,” one commenter wrote. 

Another person expressed shock at the franchise’s continued operation. “I had no idea Crust was still in business. I haven’t seen a store in ten years,” they wrote. 

One person wrote, “The health department would blitz out on the premises under an audit”.

Crust Pizza is the third largest pizza chain in Australia, with 136 active locations as of March 2023. Retail Food Group (RFG), which also operates Donut King, Gloria Jean’s, Michel’s Patisserie, and The Coffee Guy, owns Crust Pizza. 

Crust’s Quality Assurance Called Into Question

The Crust website proudly states: 

“At Crust we are obsessed with quality. We pride ourselves on using real, fresh ingredients on every pizza. From hand rolling and cutting our pizza dough, to hand seasoning fresh chicken breasts, lamb, and beef mince through the oven each morning… Crust Pizza Makers take pride in making the freshest, tastiest pizzas using the best quality ingredients every day.” 

Contrary to what is stated on their website, serious questions have been raised about food safety and hygiene at the Neutral Bay pizza location. 

Many diners have also voiced their disgust over the recent incident, leading to calls for a health and safety inspection of the popular venue. 

Crust Pizza Respond to Viral ‘pigeons’ video

A spokesperson for the store confirmed to 7News that they were aware of the viral video.

They explained that the front door had been accidentally left open for a brief period while a staff member was working in the back kitchen. 

“That was an unfortunate day … since the incident has happened, we have taken some precautions so it won’t happen again.”

Furthermore, the spokesperson added that staff have been instructed to keep doors closed whenever possible and to keep lids on topping containers.

Bridget, a former customer of the pizza establishment told City Hub she was “grossed out” by the news. 

“Crust used to be the fancier version for takeaway pizzas and to see that is honestly nasty, I would never want to eat at that store,” she said. 

She described Crust’s response as a “standard corporate” reaction and stated that her trust in the establishment was gone.

“I doubt that was the first time those birds had done that and honestly it all should have been closed the second it wasn’t in use,” she stated.  

City Hub has reached out to Crust Pizza for comment.