Atlanta — Could your kitchen at home pass a restaurant inspection?
New researcher suggests that at least one in seven home kitchens would flunk the kind of health inspection commonly administered to restaurants.
The small study from California’s Los Angeles County found that only 61 percent of home kitchens would get an A or B if put through the rigors of a restaurant inspection. At least 14 percent would fail — not even getting a C.
“I would say if they got below a C, I’m not sure I would like them to invite me to dinner,” said Dr. Jonathan Fielding, director of the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health.
In comparison, nearly all Los Angeles County restaurants — 98 percent — get A or B scores each year.
The study, released Thursday, is believed to be one of the first to offer a sizable assessment of food safety in private homes. But the researchers admit the way it was done is hardly perfect. The results are based not on actual inspections, but on an Internet quiz taken by about 13,000 adults .
An estimated 87 million cases of food-borne illness occur in the United States each year, including 371,000 hospitalizations and 5,700 deaths, according to an Associated Press calculation that uses a CDC formula and recent population estimates.
The study is being published in Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, a publication of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Comments
kernal 7 years, 7 months ago
Jist of the report is food service preps didn't wash their hands. Every restaurant needs a copy of " Food Prep for Dummies". Same old story of salmonella poisoning.
Maddy Griffin 7 years, 7 months ago
That's what the requirement for gloves was supposed to do, but nobody washes their hands before putting the gloves on either.I worked in fast-food management for about 10 years. The health department will tell you that the gloves were the biggest hoax anyone ever pulled off. Big fat fake sense of security.Hand-washing is still my biggest pet peeve.
GardenMomma 7 years, 7 months ago
Perhaps one of the reasons 98% of L.A. restuarants have an A or B rating is because they are required to post the "grade" on the front door so everyone who walks in can see it. It's pretty hard to miss a 6x9" cardboard square with a big red F or D on it.
Who would want to eat at a place that didn't pass inspection? It encourages restaurants to keep it clean in order to stay in business. If no one is eating at your establishment (and if you have a big fat D in your window it's probably not your location or prices) what are your options?
Maybe Kansas could do something like that.
Maddy Griffin 7 years, 7 months ago
I'd pass. My floors are clean enough to eat off of. Ask the dog.
domino 7 years, 7 months ago
I worked in food service for a number of years. Best boss I had always told me, "If you find a restaurant you really like, NEVER go into the kitchen." State inspection can be such a joke! I remember one time the state came in to inspect the place I was working. Had great food - great staff - great manager - AWFUL owner - didn't ever want to put any money into fixing up anything. Manager figured the only way to get anything done was if the state wrote them up - for example, ceiling area just outside the walk-in cooler was about to fall in - leaked like crazy anytime it rained. Inspector came in - looked around - including the 5 gallon buckets that were catching the water pouring in from the ceiling and said he couldn't find anything to write them up for!! Manager said, "Let me have your paper and I'll start writing for you!"
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