County Responds to Lapse in Food Service Inspections

8/12/2005

Wake County identified a lapse in food service facility inspections in June 2005. Inspection reports and grades had been falsified by an employee. Upon learning of the false reports, the County responded immediately and has now inspected the facilities involved, posted new grades, and updated sanitation data online at www.wakegov.com/sanitation. The employee is no longer working with Wake County.

"We handled this very aggressively, and there was no health threat related to this situation to the citizens of Wake County," said Wake County Environmental Services Director Rick Rowe. "The program manager has personally reviewed every file."

Equally important, steps have been taken to keep this from recurring. "We've already developed new procedures that can actually prevent this from happening," said County Food Sanitation Supervisor Andre Pierce. "Team leaders will perform random inspections and routine follow-up with field inspectors."

Environmental health specialists in Wake County are responsible for routine and follow-up inspections of all food, lodging and institutional facilities, as well as follow-up on complaints, educational and consultative activities, enforcement concerning illegal operations, and re-permitting of existing facilities.

The term "facilities" covers many different types of establishments including food services, hospitals, child day care, residential care, lodging, schools and tattoo businesses. More than 3,700 facilities currently operate in Wake County. Field service staff also conduct environmental follow-up and abatement of lead hazards associated with lead-poisoned children or lead hazards in facilities used by children under six years of age.

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