Aftonbladet interviewed 25 current and former Max employees who described a range of unsanitary practices at the restaurant chain. Their accounts include toilet seats being washed in dishwashers, food being kept warm for hours, and cleaning cloths for tables and restrooms being used interchangeably.
Employees also reported that milkshake mix is poured into cleaning buckets and then put back into the milkshake machine.
Max's communications manager, Henric Byström, responded to the allegations.
– We need to investigate whether this constitutes a criminal offence. This is completely unacceptable, he stated to the newspaper.
Max convened an emergency meeting with its staff and announced mandatory online training in hygiene and food safety for all employees.
Annett Olofsson, a union lawyer at LO-TCO Rättsskydd, criticised the company's confidentiality agreement with its employees.
– It could be interpreted as preventing employees from discussing even trivial work-related matters, even with family. It's ridiculous, she commented to the paper.
Byström said that the company is transparent and will review the agreement.