We reported in Monday’s issue of The Post that nine Athens food establishments received critical violations during health inspections this year. We realize that is not an astronomical total, but it is a surprise to us how nonchalantly the Athens City/County Health Department viewed them.
We reported in Tuesday’s issue of The Post that nine Athens food establishments received critical violations during health inspections this year. We realize that is not an astronomical total, but it is a surprise to us how nonchalantly the Athens City-County Health Department viewed them.
“It is very common for sanitarians to find violations, both critical and noncritical, at a food service operation inspection,” Health Department Administrator Charles Hammer told us. “This is not unique to the Uptown Athens area, and the recent reports do not reflect an unusual level of non-compliance with the rules.”
Hammer then added that the department requires “immediate correction of the condition or practice,” for any critical violation.
Violations pose a serious risk to patrons — many of whom are students — even if they are considered somewhat routine for the Health Department.
“A critical violation may cause immediate health concerns that could result in foodborne illness,” Adele Hanson of the Athens City-County Health Department told The Post in 2012.
The average restaurant is tabbed with one or two critical violations per visit, Hanson said in 2012. That makes any violation — especially a critical one — a cause for concern and correction.
But, what’s to stop the restaurant from continuing to make the same critical violations over and over if they are only corrected, sans significant punishment, when the health department conducts an inspection?
Well, nothing.
Take China King for example. One of the more egregious offenders among the nine establishments, the restaurant was found to have four critical violations on August 20. These violations ranged from raw meat being stored above cooked foods on storage racks to food not being stored at the proper temperature.
Saturday, the health department conducted another inspection, finding a repeat offense involving food not being covered in the walk-in cooler, and a new violation where food was not being held at proper temperature at the buffet.
To be clear: Health department officials make sure to immediately correct the problem before leaving the establishment and schedule a follow-up inspection for later.
China King wasn’t the only major offender. Some of the other, more extreme violations among these nine establishment included a large amount of flies at Courtside Pizza, food not being held at the proper temperature at Donkey Coffee and food that was not properly separated at Court Street Diner.
All of these violations have one common denominator — establishments aren’t facing any fine or serious punishment for violating the health code. They are merely flagged for further inspection.
We understand that restaurants and bars are going to be flagged with violations. It happens. But the least we can ask for is enforceable crackdowns — such as, perhaps, requiring establishments to post their violations for patrons to see — for those who need to correct their food storage and preparation practices. After all, our health is on the line.
Editorials represent the majority opinion of The Post's executive editors.
