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Tucson Restaurant Inspections Intensify after Report of Food Poisoning Associated with Food Spot Chinese Deli

By Pritzker | Ruohonen

Restaurants pose one of the greatest threats to spreading foodborne illness.  A single contamination in a restaurant can spread disease to multiple patrons.  It is therefore important that state health inspectors do their job to keep tabs on restaurants to make sure that there are no health code violations. Inspectors in Tucson, Arizona have been keeping tabs on two restaurants, according to KVOA.

Two customers reported contracting a foodborne illness after purchasing food from the Food Spot Chinese Deli in Tucson, causing the Arizona Department of Health to take a closer look into the deli’s practices.  The inspector found raw eggs stored about meat, which can cause cross-contamination of pathogens.  Other critical violations for the deli included storing potentially hazardous foods at the wrong temperature.  10 non-critical violations were also found, but the inspector could not pinpoint the source of the reported foodborne illness.  Nonetheless, the deli received a grade of “G” for good.

Another restaurant in Tucson with problems is the Cuvee World Bistro.  Inspectors found six critical violations, including cockroaches, a dirty dough machine, food stored at the wrong temperature, and cooked beef stored without an expiration date.  More than a dozen non-critical violations were also found. The owner of the bistro fixed all the violations on the spot and contacted a professional exterminator to deal with the cockroaches.  After inspection, the bistro received a “P” grade, a provisional license to operate.

Inspections are important for keeping restaurant owners honest about health regulations and to educate owners who may not otherwise know that their operating policies are not safe.

Full post as published by Food Poisoning Law Blog on April 09, 2008 (boomark / email).