A report in the Journal of Food Protection's November 2012 issue has found that more violations of food safety laws and regulations were found in restaurants that were linked to food poisoning outbreaks. While that may seem obvious, this was a meta-analysis that proved the point. The Division of Environmental Health Sciences at the University of Minnesota conducted the research. Since most foodborne illness outbreaks occur in restaurant settings, this research will help public health officials focus on interventions that have the most impact on reducing food poisoning outbreaks. The report states that "significantly more violations were recorded at restaurants that had outbreaks." Three pathogens that cause the majority of foodborne illness outbreaks in the United States are … [Read more...]
Fake Food Inspectors Fleecing Toronto Restaurants
Toronto restaurants are being warned that people posing as food inspectors are calling area establishments to say they must buy $300 first-aid kits, according to Toronto Public Health (TPH). The agency and the police department received a number of calls over the last week alerting them to the problem. “If you are contacted by someone claiming to be a Toronto Public Health inspector attempting to schedule an inspection, asking for personal information or selling first-aid kits, contact your local police department,” Jim Chan, food safety manager with Toronto Public Health, said in a statement. “Legitimate public health inspectors do not call ahead to schedule inspections. In most cases, inspections are unannounced. As well, TPH inspectors do not sell first-aid kits to food operators.” … [Read more...]
Michigan Will Post Establishment Food Safety Scores Online
The Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD) is starting an online food establishment inspection report system called MiSafe. Consumers can just type in the establishment name, street address, and city and see more than 19,000 inspection reports. The reports cover grocery and convenience stores, food processors, and food warehouses. Those facilities are inspected every 6, 12, or 18 months, depending on the perceived food safety risks and complexity of food handling. These inspections will follow the updated food safety regulations that go into effect on October 1, 2012. According to the government, violations of food safety laws are problems that can lead to foodborne illness, food contamination, or an environmental health hazard. Severe violations that aren't … [Read more...]
Kansas Puts Restaurant Inspections Online For Consumers
In New York City, restaurants are required to post the letter grade of their most recent health inspection where it can easily be seen by passers by. In Kansas, restaurants don’t have to post their grades, but a new online tool makes them available to consumers. The new system is a more user-friendly version of a previous website that went offline for about a year while it was upgraded. Now, before they dine out, Kansans can visit the state website and view inspection results searching by business name, county, city or inspection date. “The inspections are a snapshot of the conditions our inspectors document at the time of their unannounced inspection,” said Kansas Department of Agriculture Food Safety and Lodging Program Manager Steve Moris. The Kansas Department of Agriculture … [Read more...]
