Zimmern writes about food inspectors in MN!

January 4, 2011

Check out the latest issue of MPLS/ST. PAUL (Jan 11) In addition to several

good reviews of local restaurants, there is an OpEd by ANDREW ZIMMERN, food

critic and TV star. He was discussing how easy it is for one to get FOOD

POISONING at some of the local junk food joints! The HARTMANNS will love his

reporting.

He states the following stats (this from insider reports from the Today Show and

ESPN):

1) At the food court of the Mall of America 68% of the food vendors had SERIOUS

health violations in the past year!!! This is egregious!

2) At the Target Center 39%, Xcel 17% and Metrodome 8%. Serious violations.

3) MINNEAPOLIS has 10 inspectors, one supervisor and one manager. There are 1134

restaurant licenses. That is about 100 restaurants per inspector. Only 366

restaurants got an inspection in the entire year!

4) ST PAUL has 5.5 inspectors (one is part-time) and 800 restaurant licenses.

So, first of all, what are these guys doing all day if 10 inspectors can only

inspect 366 restaurants in a WHOLE YEAR? that is 37/inspector and they have

about 280 days to get around. I don't get it. Secondly, some of these places

should have been shut down but they acrue scores of violations and remain open.

What gives?

As you probably know, the big SALMONELLA EGG SCANDAL condemned over 1/2 BILLION

contaminated eggs. Did you know ALL the eggs went ahead and were sold? They were

pasteurized and eaten merrily. Additionally, no one went to jail, no one was

closed down, and it's BUSINESS AS USUAL! All these eggs came from factory farm

chickens that are ticking time bombs of salmonella. Every ounce of flesh is

loaded with the same pathogens!

Again, I don't get it? Thoughts? Comments? Rants?

Will Winter

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