Recordpub.com - Restaurant inspections a priority Health department monitors 400 eateries

By Mike Sever
Record-Courier staff writer
Keeping restaurants and other food preparers safe for consumers is a priority of the Portage County Health Department.
The department covers most of the county except for Kent and Ravenna (they have their own health departments).
Sanitarian Beth Ahrens inspects some 400 eateries at least twice annually, covering cleanliness, proper food storage, proper cleaning of equipment, adequate lighting and proper handwashing facilities.
Loyd Groves, head of the department's environmental division, said food safety is "a primary responsibility. One of the important things we do for Portage County residents is making sure the food they get in restaurants and food services is prepared safely and handed to them safely."
Recently, Ahrens did an initial inspection at Seven Chairs, a new catering and small reception business in Brimfield.
Owner Donna Ward watched as Ahrens loaded ice and water in a bucket and gathered up thermometers from around the kitchen to make sure they are properly calibrated.
Cooking and cooling temperatures are extremely important to food safety, Ahrens said. Refrigerated foods must be cooled to near freezing temperatures, and frozen foods must be kept at near zero degrees, to prevent potential growth of bacteria.
Dishes, glasses and utensils must be washed in a three-compartment sink.
"They must be washed, rinsed and sanitized, in that order, and then air dried," again, to prevent any bacteria. "Some people get it out of order, they think you have to rinse off the sanitizer," she said.
Ahrens also checks the strength of a special sanitizing solution kept to wipe down counters and tables in the food preparation area.
Next, Ahrens checked the refrigerators to make sure foods are stored in the right vertical order.
"It goes by cooking temperature," she said. "Foods with higher temps are on the bottom, so if anything does drip on it, it would be cooked away."
Ward was smiling at the inspection's conclusion.
"This was so easy. I was so nervous and everything went so quickly," she said.
That was because of Ward's experience and preparation, Ahrens noted.
Ward has a bachelor's degree in hospitality management from Kent State Univeristy and, until recently, was an instructor for catering and food production classes. Her husband, Jim, is a graduate of the International Arts and Science Institute of Chesterland.
Ahrens said food safety is "pretty much common sense" of good hand washing, sanitizing of equipment and keeping hot foods hot and cold foods cold.
What happens when people don't use proper procedures can be widespred and devastating " from an upset stomach to death.
Groves said the department does not issue inspection certificates to restaurants, but can respond to public inquiries about when a facility was inspected.
The department also responds to consumer complaints.
"If it's a situation we get complaints from several different groups, we will go out and have a look about what's going on," Groves said.
Facilities are not told ahead of time about an impending inspection, he said.
If problems are found, "We tell them this needs correction and we will be back to confirm it's corrected," Groves said.
Most problems are refrigeration temperature and food storage, he said.
Groves said most food purveyors are conscientious about food safety.
"We never experienced anything that bad" that would require immediate closure, Groves said.

1.	Posted by DoWhatsRight June 23, 2008
	Well then what happened at Chipotle"s Mexican Restaurant? Where was she when the Chinese Buffet on SR 59 had food on the steam table that was cold? I have witnessed a lot of health code violations at these festivals when the food is touch by the people working there. A restaurant can get real dirty in 6 months. By then a lot of people can be very sick. The concept is to keep them clean not clean up after. I know that the Health Department is the most under funded department in Portage County and they need more help. Will it take a major illness to get a more frequent and better check on these restaurants? I call on the Portage County Commissioners to give them more money and hire more people. Quit giving the money to the good old boys and give it to the people who protect the citizens.