Wide social media circulation of short videos purportedly showing a portion of the kitchen at the Garden City Applebee’s location littered with pest droppings prompted a response from the Rhode Island Department of Health last week.

Joseph Wendelken, a spokesman for the health department, said representatives of the department’s Center for Food Protection were sent to the restaurant “almost immediately” after the videos came to the attention of officials on Facebook.

Wendelken said based on his understanding, an after-hours cleaning crew had moved ceiling tiles, at which point “debris and droppings” from above the tiles fell onto a portion of the kitchen area. He said the area in question had been “cleaned and sanitized” by the time inspectors arrived.

“The owners there have been very responsive,” he said, adding, “What I can say definitively is that when our team went in this week, there were no health issues identified.”

Wendelken also said a recent inspection by a pest control company found no indications of recent pest activity or infestation at the restaurant.

A spokesperson for Apple American Group, an Applebee’s franchisee, issued the following statement:

“The health and safety of our guests and employees is paramount, and as a company, we strive to ensure all locations adhere to our strict guidelines and policies regarding food safety and cleanliness. What is shown in these videos does not meet Applebee’s quality standards, and we have taken immediate action to remedy the situation, with the location being cleared by the local Board of Health. We will continue to work closely with them to ensure transparency and guest safety.”

The Facebook post that prompted the health department’s response had been shared more than 3,400 times as of late Monday.