Food Service Inspections

Does your local newspaper list restaurant inspections? Do you read them? Avoid certain establishments as a result?

Ours don't but I wish they would!

Yes, they do. They put it all in print there rating and what the reason is and what they expect done....

Yes, ours does. They list the violations. Most are small problems that are dealt with right away. Few restaurants are closed due to health violations here.

I saw a restaurant renovation show on HGTV a few years ago--like a makeover- on a place in New York City- I couldn't believe the place could have operated as it was 'before' Horrible!

I'll admit here that I used to do rest inspections......

that was a rough job, I bet. I wouldn't want to do it with some of the restaurants I've been in and walked out of. Oooooh

I don't read the papers but would love an online link source that listed this by zip or something.

We've walked into restaurants that we quickly turned back out in because of how dirty a place looked. I much prefer the open kitchen style where they have to be more careful because you can SEE how they cook/clean.

Anyone survey their silverware before eating? I'd say half the time we'll have some dirty silver so we open all the napkins at the table though we only need 2 sets. Sheer lazy.

Sorry to disappoint, but an online link would be another task of updating ; I don't think any jursidiction will commit to that.
I bet there are some websites for customer reactions tho! if not, good idea.
Even chains can be inconsistent between stores, altho most try for consistency.
Its a tough business.

Oh true, didn't mean it had to be govt food service inspections, though that is the subject of thread. Perhaps though as a matter of public record they could just scan the inspections online for people to view.

Ours are listed on the newspaper's website for review.

Does anybody change their eating-out habits as a result of what they read?

I don't think there would be that many surprises- use your common sense as to the appearance you can see, the back is usually not much different- meaning, if they pay attention to details in front, they probably do in back too.

And a lot of common restaurant food is bought ready made--so all they do is heat it up and there's less hazard in that. until you get a major recall.

I agree on the appearance thing. If you see something, though, you should report it. We were at a well-known chain restaurant last Sunday and saw somehthing. The staff was cleaning the intake vents in the ceiling with a broom. With customers watching. Over the food areas. while food was being served. Sheesh! where's the common sense?

A friend of mine and I also once saw a worker stand on a counter to reach plastic utensils that had fallen behind it. He sat on it, stood up on it, turned around and sat back down on it. He reached behind and got the fallen utensils and replaced them in the canisters. Both incidents were reported to the Health Dept.

I've not seen that we have reports in the paper but I know they have best/worst places to eat in a couple of them.

I really don't like when someone sweeps the floor when I'm eating. It really bothers me. Also, spraying that cleaning solution on the table with another right next to it. It gags me. The smell and the fact that it is misting over on my food!

It seems that a bucket of HOT, CLEAN, soapy water cleaning off the table works well and one of those carpet sweepers would be better suited. And if there is a napkin on the floor, pick it up (wear some gloves if you're scared). Don't set t here for 5 minutes with the broom trying to move that dang napkin!

Pet peeves!!!!

I always wish I were an inspector when they are doing that.

Oh one more thing. I wish they would clean whatever they leave on the table, i.e. salt, pepper, ketchup, mustard, soy sauce, etc. I have seen some pretty gross ones left with food on them and who knows what! YUCK, YUCK, YUCK!

EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I agree.

I'm almost at the point of bringing my own condiments in with me and covering theirs with a napkin, ha, ha.... Makes my skin crawl.

Misty and Kwan ya'll crack me up. SO TRUE THOUGH! Ugh they wipe down the top of salt with their wet rags used on the table and then the salt all crusts on the top and won't pour, as if you want it poured from that container anyhow.

I was telling my husband it'd be nice if all tables came with hand gel or a moist towellette wipe. I'd do that if I had a place.

We once saw at a fast food place the person wearing gloves change the trash bag in the square trash bin, then they proceeded to climb a chair and dig their hands around in the ice machine because it's been stopped up. We ordered no drinks. Ugh. Just disgusting.

Disposable gloves are a particular pet peave of mine. Most of the employees that wear them are far less sanitary than those that don't. Sure their hands are "safe" from whatever they touch, but they can contaminate everything they come in contact with. Yet, the health departments try to mandate them - ARRGGHH!

If you touch money - wash your hands,
If you bus tables - wash your hands,
If you "police the floor" - wash your hands,
If you handle meat, eggs, dairy, etc. - wash your hands.

And while you are at it - wash the equipment you used, too.

LOL Bubba, quite right. :)

kwanjin--the 'funny' thing is, when the kid's cleaning the vents, his boss is probably in back with the inspector, trying to 'damage control' any way his little brain can think of!

and this is why we parents need to teach our kids about handwashing, but not all do.

*bravo* Yep, isn't hard to take your lil' ones into public RR's and tell THEM to wash their hands as other kids or *gasp* adults walk out without bothering?! Sheesh.

Ok, maybe I am a freak, when I am cooking anything, I wash my hands constantly. Not all the time but if I break an egg, handle meat of any kind, anything that makes my hands feel greasy - I am at the sink, the water on hot, washing then drying on a clean towel.

This maybe unnecessary but no one has (to my knowledge) become ill from my food. While I have gotten upset from some restaurant food?

Cook at home, you know what is in there and you know how it is prepared.

My apologizes to those members who are in the food service business. But I am probably not using your service & cannot take a chance on who you have working there.

Sally, the "funny part"? It was a girl and her friends were helping her. Swiping at the dust bunnies coming down, and oh boy! Don't get me started again! I got up and told her it would probably be in their best interests if they waited until they were closed before doing that. She looked at me like I'd spoken Swahili. Clueless...

Dyson, I totally agree with your methods. LOL I do it, too.

No offense taken, Dyson.
That is what we preach over and over to our troops - and why there is a paper towel dispenser over the sink. It is also why I we will never have chicken or fish meat products - beef, bacon, & bison - same potential "bugs". Also, we wash all veggies before cutting. 23 years with no food-related health problems at our place. We have been using the same meat and produce suppliers all that time, too.

Waiting until they were closed before preforming the required "closing" actions of the establishment would have "slowed down" the evening. Do none of us realize that there are things that must be done in the evening?

I was young once (and if I were again, I would probably shoot myself).

Hey if you want to change the way young people behave, (as was done 30 years ago) then the changes need to be made at home.

I know there are people, here that feel that their children do not need any adjustments & there are a few of those. I am totally grateful that I am no longer required to be responsible for my children's actions.

With age, wisdom? - Let me talk to the oldest farmer in the county, in the mean time the kids can figure out how to play the game or make the chat that will feed them tomorrow.

Did not mean to rant, but Burning.

Oh my! I probably made them late for a movie or something! LOL

kwanjin, you probably cost them 2 tenths of a second! How can you live with yourself? I would have taken my own life at least 2.9 minutes ago. Wait - can I get a Job at that restaurant? I happen to be "out of work" at the moment and it sounds like a place that I really need to be at. Do they need someone who does a good "salmon troller" special?

Ok now I am getting unreasonable - Thanks folks for keeping me on an even "keel".

You need to "reel" yourself in!

A third for constant handwashing when cooking. Although I will rinse for an egg break, and still lick the beaters sometimes- BAD! But even the Food Network gals and guys are trying to show handwashing after all hazardous foods.
Salmonella has the nasty ability to make you sick with very few actual bugs. Many other bugs need to be 'grown' in food to a bigger population to make you sick. Grown thru not cooling properly, not heating hot enough and with time for them to multiply.

Sorry, I will refrain.