Viral video shows Crumbl Cookies employees doing their hair inside store

CHARLOTTE, N.C. [CBS7]

A social media video depicting workers at a Charlotte-area Crumbl Cookies location engaged in personal grooming activities during business hours has sparked scrutiny from health officials and prompted the company to take corrective action.

The footage, which surfaced online, captured what appeared to be staff members styling each other's hair inside the bakery's Midtown Charlotte location. Multiple workers were visible in the video during the incident.

Company leadership responded swiftly to the controversy, releasing a statement Tuesday condemning the conduct as falling short of organizational expectations. "The conduct shown is unacceptable and does not reflect Crumbl's standards," the statement said. The company indicated it had immediately shuttered the store following discovery of the incident, destroyed all prepared dough inventory, retained professional cleaning services, and implemented unspecified disciplinary measures against the involved employees.

The cookie chain did not elaborate on the specific consequences facing the workers, leaving questions about whether they were terminated, suspended, or subjected to other penalties.

North Carolina's Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, which oversees food service inspections, confirmed awareness of the situation as of Tuesday but had not fielded formal complaints regarding the video as of Wednesday. An agency representative stated the department intends to conduct an unannounced facility inspection to ensure compliance with health and safety regulations.

The incident underscores ongoing food service industry challenges regarding workplace conduct and sanitation standards during operational hours.