Health Dept: More to Inspection Scores than Just the Numbers
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The Health Department looks for critical and non-critical violations which can lower a restaurant’s score during an inspection. Before you head out to your favorite restaurant, you may want to checks its health inspections. “It lists here mouse dropping on the bottom of the prep shelf,” said health inspector Mark Morris of the Jackson-Madison County Health Department. Morris stated reports show 4 Corners Cafe had a total of 11 violations. According to the health department, the droppings found at the cafe are considered a critical violation. “Being out in the country, it gets cold sometimes. They want to hide and we have a pest control company that comes to take care of it,” said Nancy Riley, owner of 4 Corners Cafe. The critical violation is the cafe’s second offense. In early February, El Palenque suffered critical violations in as well. Reports show an employee touched raw beef and then fresh vegetables. “I would never touch raw beef and then vegetables in my own home let alone the public. It’s kind of scary that that goes on in restaurants now,” said Mitzi Seals. The health department said a sizable amount of violations are related to employees not washing their hands. The report from Lenny’s Sub Shop on Vann Drive showed employees handling money and food without washing their hands, and Buffalo Wild Wings employees touching their faces and handling food with no gloves. Morris said clean or dirty bathrooms can point you in the right direction when choosing a safe place to eat. “If they’re not taking care of the things you can see, what’s going on in the places you cannot see,” said Morris. While health officials said hand-washing is the hardest tor regulate, they said residents can protect themselves. “You can look at the inspection score. That score should be somewhere around the front entrance or register,” said Morris.
