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GoldenRod
10 years on LIF!
Member since 11/06 26792 total posts
Name:
Shawn
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Food inspectors flood LI restaurants
Since I know many people were concerned about restaurants, apparently the local gov't is, too.
http://www.newsday.com/news/breaking/food-inspectors-flood-li-restaurants-1.3135693
With refrigeration in question at hundreds of restaurants that lost power in Tropical Storm Irene, county food inspectors have fanned out to restaurants throughout Long Island, checking on meats and produce that must meet specific temperature requirements.
"We have about 30 inspectors who are going to about 1,100 to 1,200 restaurants," said Dr. James Tomarken, Suffolk County commissioner of health services. "The concern is foods that have been without refrigeration and could potentially be contaminated."
Inspectors have not yet tabulated data to determine how many restaurants were forced to discard food deemed unsafe for consumption. They began their tour of restaurants Monday and will continue their efforts through Friday, Tomarken said.
In addition to checking on food temperatures, Tomarken said that inspectors would also note whether proprietors had access to an alternate power-generating system in the absence of LIPA's electrical service.
In Nassau, a similar army of food inspectors is on the hunt for restaurant food that may have gone unrefrigerated, said Mary Ellen Laurain, spokeswoman for the Nassau County Department of Health.
"We will not let restaurants operate if they do not have power. Our staff is still out there, and they have been going since the storm," she said.
Along with food inspectors, Nassau has a number of teams that are investigating sewage, toxic waste and water quality.
There are 5,000 food establishments in Nassau, Laurain said, but only those that lost power are being inspected.As in Suffolk, inspectors are receiving information from LIPA to determine which eateries lost electrical service, and which are still without it.
There have been no reports of food-borne illness in either county.
Restaurant proprietors in both counties who couldn't maintain foods at specified temperatures -- no higher than 40 degrees Fahrenheit for refrigerated foods and zero for frozen fare -- are being told to trash them. Consumers, Tomarken said, should heed the same refrigeration guidelines for optimum food safety, and follow a well-known public health rule of thumb: "When in doubt, throw it out."
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Posted 9/1/11 7:46 AM  |
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NervousNell
Just another chapter in life..
Member since 11/09 54921 total posts
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..being a mommy and being a wife!
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Re: Food inspectors flood LI restaurants
It's funny. We ate out last night and aloso had breakfast out a few days ago- and I never even thought about it.
I am dangerous like that! 
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| Posted 9/1/11 7:46 AM |
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Goobster
:)
Member since 5/07 27557 total posts
Name:
:)
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Re: Food inspectors flood LI restaurants
Wow. I am shocked. Even still, I am wary!
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| Posted 9/1/11 8:17 AM |
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NervousNell
Just another chapter in life..
Member since 11/09 54921 total posts
Name:
..being a mommy and being a wife!
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Re: Food inspectors flood LI restaurants
I just feel like if the restaurant is reputable they are not going to risk their business and reputation and serve food that is questionable.
There was an article in Newsday yesterday about Prime- they said they had generators and refrigerated trucks while their power was out.
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| Posted 9/1/11 8:37 AM |
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memi7206
LIF Adult
Member since 3/11 2355 total posts
Name:
Due Dec 29th!!!!!
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Re: Food inspectors flood LI restaurants
Posted by NervousNell
I just feel like if the restaurant is reputable they are not going to risk their business and reputation and serve food that is questionable.
There was an article in Newsday yesterday about Prime- they said they had generators and refrigerated trucks while their power was out.
agreed. My BIL did not have a generator at a very local popular restaurant that he owns - they threw out 50K worth of food just to be safe. Thats a huge hit, but to them, bc they are a reputable restaurant and obviously dont want to get their customers sick - took the hit and threw it all out.
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| Posted 9/1/11 9:27 AM |
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NervousNell
Just another chapter in life..
Member since 11/09 54921 total posts
Name:
..being a mommy and being a wife!
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Re: Food inspectors flood LI restaurants
Posted by memi7206
Posted by NervousNell
I just feel like if the restaurant is reputable they are not going to risk their business and reputation and serve food that is questionable.
There was an article in Newsday yesterday about Prime- they said they had generators and refrigerated trucks while their power was out.
agreed. My BIL did not have a generator at a very local popular restaurant that he owns - they threw out 50K worth of food just to be safe. Thats a huge hit, but to them, bc they are a reputable restaurant and obviously dont want to get their customers sick - took the hit and threw it all out.
Exactly- 50K is crazy money to lose, but it's better than losing your whole business.
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| Posted 9/1/11 9:38 AM |
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BargainMama
LIF Adult
Member since 5/09 15660 total posts
Name:
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Re: Food inspectors flood LI restaurants
I saw this on the news the other day, it's great, except I don't think they have hit every single restaurant. We ate at Wendy's yesterday and the food tasted REALLY off. The fries had a horrible odor. I threw it out. Has anyone been to grocery stores yet? Are they restocking with fresh food at this point?
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| Posted 9/1/11 10:14 AM |
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cjik
Welcome 2010!
Member since 2/06 8879 total posts
Name:
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Re: Food inspectors flood LI restaurants
Posted by NervousNell
I just feel like if the restaurant is reputable they are not going to risk their business and reputation and serve food that is questionable.
There was an article in Newsday yesterday about Prime- they said they had generators and refrigerated trucks while their power was out.
It would be foolish yes, but I still don't trust people. Grocery stores the same. After the NYC blackout, I went to a grocery store in my neighborhood. I asked the manager if fresh food had been received and old food thrown away, he assured me up down and backwards that yes, everything was fresh. Then I went to the cheese counter, and it looked, well melted. So I asked the guy who worked that counter if this was fresh cheese and he shook his head no--said the store had thrown out almost nothing.
So I just don't trust people.
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| Posted 9/1/11 10:16 AM |
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cjik
Welcome 2010!
Member since 2/06 8879 total posts
Name:
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Re: Food inspectors flood LI restaurants
Posted by BargainMama
I saw this on the news the other day, it's great, except I don't think they have hit every single restaurant. We ate at Wendy's yesterday and the food tasted REALLY off. The fries had a horrible odor. I threw it out. Has anyone been to grocery stores yet? Are they restocking with fresh food at this point?
I went to a grocery store about 30 minutes from my house that was in an area that never lost power (I know people who live nearby who told me this). The ones in my nabe that lost power, I just don't trust. Call me paranoid, but I've had food poisoning a couple times, don't want it again!
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| Posted 9/1/11 10:18 AM |
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GoldenRod
10 years on LIF!
Member since 11/06 26792 total posts
Name:
Shawn
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Re: Food inspectors flood LI restaurants
DW went to BJs on Monday, and most, if not all of their perishable food was wrapped up on pallets waiting for the insurance adjuster to come in. They wasted no time in getting rid of anything that was questionable.
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| Posted 9/1/11 10:20 AM |
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LawyerWife
LIF Infant
Member since 10/10 193 total posts
Name:
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Re: Food inspectors flood LI restaurants
Posted by NervousNell
I just feel like if the restaurant is reputable they are not going to risk their business and reputation and serve food that is questionable.
There was an article in Newsday yesterday about Prime- they said they had generators and refrigerated trucks while their power was out.
I agree with this. DH's family owns several well known restaurants on LI, and I know with past blackouts etc they have been extremely careful with regard to food safety. If anyone were to get sick after eating there in those circumstances, it would be obvious why and they would not take that chance. However I am sure there are restaurants out there that don't care as much - but I think the reputable ones definitely do.
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| Posted 9/1/11 10:53 AM |
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mrsBLT
missing my baby
Member since 1/10 1359 total posts
Name:
Brittany
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Re: Food inspectors flood LI restaurants
i work pt at a restaurant right now and they piled everything they could into the walk in fridge and freezer that are made to hold their temperature for up to thirty hours incase it loses power. we only lost power here for 8 hours but everything that wasn't in those two places (they did keep temp - they have to stay below a certain degree for everything to be fine) was thrown out. the "86 list" was ridiculous but it's better safe than sorry - no respectable place is going to chance getting their customers sick.
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| Posted 9/1/11 10:59 AM |
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itsbabytime
LIF Adult
Member since 11/05 9644 total posts
Name:
Me
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Re: Food inspectors flood LI restaurants
I've eaten out but, only at places that never lost power. My DH thinks I am crazy b/c all the restaurants in our town say they operated fully on generators during the storm but, I'd rather go where they never lost power at all!
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| Posted 9/1/11 11:13 AM |
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Sassyz75
Turning a new page
Member since 5/05 9731 total posts
Name:
Dina
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Re: Food inspectors flood LI restaurants
most restaurants have insurance against spoilage.. but you do really have to be careful eating out...
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| Posted 9/1/11 12:10 PM |
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Blu-ize
Plan B is Now Plan A
Member since 7/05 32475 total posts
Name:
Susan
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Re: Food inspectors flood LI restaurants
Posted by NervousNell
Posted by memi7206
Posted by NervousNell
I just feel like if the restaurant is reputable they are not going to risk their business and reputation and serve food that is questionable.
There was an article in Newsday yesterday about Prime- they said they had generators and refrigerated trucks while their power was out.
agreed. My BIL did not have a generator at a very local popular restaurant that he owns - they threw out 50K worth of food just to be safe. Thats a huge hit, but to them, bc they are a reputable restaurant and obviously dont want to get their customers sick - took the hit and threw it all out.
Exactly- 50K is crazy money to lose, but it's better than losing your whole business.
Glad to hear that and sorry at the same time. Can he submit to his insurance co for this?
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| Posted 9/1/11 1:37 PM |
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