Is your favorite food spot the cleanest in the county?
Now you can look to the Web to find out.
Food inspection reports are now available online through the Wood County Health District at http://healthspace.com/woodco.
Improved accessibility of those records is the result of a data system that allows information to be
updated after inspectors complete their reports, said Pat Snyder, the district’s health information,
education and communications manager.
Previously, those public records could be accessed at the health district or by requesting copies that
came with a fee. Reports could also be requested via email, but there was a delay and significant staff
efforts involved in looking them up, Snyder said.
"Now with them available online, (people) can look up the info they want to see and have it
accessible as soon as they want."
The documents also give important context to reports, which otherwise can appear oversimplified if only
listing the number of violations. Snyder acknowledged there can be a big difference between a
non-critical violation and something more meaningful, such as a food temperature issue. "If you
don’t know what that means, (the report) is not of much value to you."
From homemade popcorn shops to full-service restaurants, food-service facilities are regularly inspected
anywhere from once to four times per year, depending on a business’ risk classification, based on
aspects like menu complexity and the degree of likelihood that uncorrected concerns would lead to public
health problems. Inspections can also be follow-ups to previous visits when violations were notified,
and can be initiated by complaints.
Two types of violations are noted during inspection visits. Non-critical violations are not directly
related to causes of food-borne illnesses, but may lead to problems if not corrected. Critical
violations, meanwhile, are more likely to contribute to food contamination or illness, including
improper temperatures or cooking procedures that encourage bacteria and viruses.
The reports available online indicate how many of each violation were recorded during a given visit, as
well as comments by the inspector. According to health district information, one report should not be
used as an overall measure of an establishment.
"Looking at a facility’s inspection results over a period of time gives a more accurate picture of
that facility’s commitment to compliance. It is also important to note that a violation at a facility
which is part of a restaurant/grocery chain indicates a problem only at that particular location,"
information on the website states.
To access reports, click "Food Facility Inspection Reports" at the left. The page that follows
offers details on the inspection process and allows users to click on a city or village or search for a
location by name. After selecting a location, you can sort by name, or by date to see the most recent
reports.
Snyder said she hopes to eventually begin using the online system for other reports, such as campgrounds,
tattoo facilities, swimming pools and recreational water facilities.
The health district relies upon other media to spread information to the public. Its Facebook pages are a
steady source of updates, and a redesigned website – http://woodcountyhealth.org – launched this
week offers more information and forms that are frequently requested as paper copies.
"To us, it seems to be more user friendly," Snyder said.