Are restaurants clean?

Several days ago, the Topeka paper had an article about restaurant inspections.  It turns out, not many Topeka eating establishments are clean.  Or, at least, without any violations.

Some of the violations found in 2011 were more than 300 cockroaches, raw vegetables and food contaminated with raw meat. Moldy food.  Sixty-five percent of the restaurants in Shawnee County had at least one violation.  Oh, and, “only about 35 restaurants — or 5 percent of those inspected — had problems with cockroaches or mice in 2011.”  Thirty-five restaurants sounds like a lot to me.   Some chain restaurants were even cited.

I will concede this, if a restaurant inspector came in unannounced and checked my kitchen, they could probably find something.  I’m sure they are very thorough.  However, there is not cross contamination of raw meat and vegetables.  Nor, would they find cockroaches or mice.  I’m careful about the three hour rule and cooling things down in a timely manner just like everyone else.  It seems to me that someone running a public restaurant would be especially watchful.

I’ve never had food poisoning, that I know of.  Doug got it once after eating in a now closed restaurant.  Not something I want to get. 

After reading this article, I think I will eat where I can see the ingredients and food prepared—sub places, Papa Murphys pizza, Chipotles,  etc.