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When’s the last time that you had a bad meal outside of your home? Oh, and we’re not talking about the taste, rather, the hygiene, the awful food preparation standards, and ignoring safety rules. Odds are that you felt the effects pretty quickly after the first few bites and your upset stomach won’t let you go back there again. Ever!
Obviously, knowing what restaurants to avoid would be better than risking everything yourself (your body will thank you for it). That’s where one food inspector’s spot-on advice comes in for Australians and Americans alike. Food inspector SemyKitten had some great tips on how exactly to find out whether a food truck or a restaurant has failed and been issued a penalty online.
Check out her videos below, dear Pandas, and let us know about the most awful experience you’ve ever had with a meal in the comments. Pssst for those of you Pandas living in the US, SemyKitten noted that you ought to Google ‘food inspection reports’ and then add your county name.
More info: TikTok | Instagram | FoodAuthority.nsw.gov.au/offences
RELATED:
A food inspector explained how to access food safety databases. Here’s her first video, meant specifically for Australians (the second one for Americans is below)
@7semykittens#stitch with @zekecieslak #avoid#healthinspector#foodsafety#foodies#foodtiktok#sydneylockdown♬ original sound – SemyKitten
Image credits: 7semykittens
Image credits: 7semykittens
Image credits: 7semykittens
Image credits: 7semykittens
Image credits: 7semykittens
Image credits: 7semykittens
Image credits: 7semykittens
Image credits: 7semykittens
In a second video, SemyKitten shared what her followers living in the US should do
@7semykittensReply to @lovelycarol1227 #healthinspector#environmentalhealth#foodies#foodtiktok#fyp#gdayusa#usa♬ original sound – SemyKitten
Image credits: 7semykittens
Image credits: 7semykittens
Image credits: 7semykittens
Image credits: 7semykittens
Image credits: 7semykittens
Image credits: 7semykittens
Image credits: 7semykittens
Image credits: 7semykittens
The food inspector pointed out in one of her videos that her job is to evaluate the quality of hygiene standards everywhere: from supermarkets to those food trucks that always catch my eye with their delicious-looking nosh, but which I’m always worried about when it comes to the actual quality.
SemyKitten emphasized that every single offense is logged into a database that the general public can easily access. All it takes is a few minutes of research and there you go—now you’ll know if that place you’ve been dying to eat at will make you feel like you’re up in heaven or down in hell.
There’s a wide variety of things that health inspectors check for. From figuring out whether all the permits are up to date to checking the actual hygiene and safety standards in the food prep areas. For instance, if you’re running a restaurant you really want to make sure that there are no pests skittering about on your floor (the inspector might make an exception to a rat named Remy, but don’t hold your breath).
What’s more, food inspectors check how food items are stored. If food is stored improperly and at the wrong temperature, this leads to bacteria populations exploding and that’s what can cause food-related illnesses, both mild and horrifying.
For example, one thing that you probably already know from watching all of those awesome TV cooking shows is that you should never keep cooked and raw meat next to each other, so as to avoid cross-contamination.
These might be the basics, but you’d be surprised how many places are sloppy with their standards when they know nobody’s looking! So it’s vital that food inspectors are able to see past charades and temporary clean-ups. It’s all done for the sake of our safety and eating pleasure, after all.
Here’s how some people reacted to the viral videos
What do you think ?
WilvanderHeijden 4 years ago
This is what we need in the Netherlands. Some may think it's not OK to name and shame businesses who don't care about the quality of their products, their hygiene or their customers, but I still think that there's no reason to hide this information. It would be much better if businesses know they could get their name out there for being a hazard to the public. Under the guise of "Privacy" too many lousy businesses are protected from exposure. But if their products and hygiene aren't up to a minimum of safety, the public has a right to know. I'm sure it would encourage the bad businesses to make a change. The alternative would be to close down, because everyone would know how unsafe they are. And I can't see anything wrong in bad businesses closing down.
Rissie 4 years ago
The results of the NVWA are available online. https://www.openbare-inspectieresultaten.nvwa.nl/bedrijfsinspecties/horeca-veilig-eten-en-drinken. Also use your common sense when going inside a restaurant. If it looks dirty, chances are almost 100% the kitchen is no different. Same with attitude. Nasty attitudes from serving personel usually complement what's happening in the kitchen too.
Load More Replies...
James Game 4 years ago
We have an open system in the UK where inspections can be viewed: https://ratings.food.gov.uk/
James016 4 years ago
It's a really useful site. It even has schools on there. Thankfully my sons school is rated 5
Load More Replies...
Mazer 4 years ago
My parent had a restaurant, So I’ve been familiar with the inner workings since I was in my teens. Here’s some hints. The front windows are usually the last to get cleaned especially on the inside. Check them, if they’re neglected chances are other places in the restaurant are neglected as well. Dead or live flies are a NO GO. Then go check the bathroom, if the bathroom is disgusting chances are the kitchen is disgusting. You can say you’re waiting for a friend if a bus boy or any employee comes out and they’re wearing a dirty apron, go eat someplace else.
Brandy Grote 4 years ago
We just look at the front of the restaurant. It MUST post the health code grade on a large placard. Best grade is A. Anything less, look it up and see why. If they have no hot water or no cold food storage, pass. Even pests aren't as bad, since if a neighboring unit sprayed, bugs will go in there, and they will be visible when that place is under treatment, which means they are taking action! And just use your eyes. If the vents are dirty, chances sre the entire kitchen is not as clean as it could be. Bathrooms messy, or actually filthy? No soap or towels? No hot water, cleaning schedule, or ways to dry your hands? Guess who isn't going in there to clean up the room OR their hands!
Hans 4 years ago
Some countries require food safety inspections to be posted clearly visible on the outside of the premises. For example, Denmark has a Smiley system in place: https://www.findsmiley.dk/english/Pages/About.aspx I would always glance at these and whenever not all smileys were laughing I would read the fine print.
Sharon Ingram 4 years ago
Hack for avoiding food poisoning at restaurants - cook and eat at home.
Mike Weber 4 years ago
Tallahassee is in Leon County, not Dade. Those are Miami restaurants, most likely.
Kim Kermes 4 years ago
In California, inspection grades are posted outside the entrance, and inspections are published in the newspaper. Its so sad how little pride some owners, managers, and even employees have.
WilvanderHeijden 4 years ago
This is what we need in the Netherlands. Some may think it's not OK to name and shame businesses who don't care about the quality of their products, their hygiene or their customers, but I still think that there's no reason to hide this information. It would be much better if businesses know they could get their name out there for being a hazard to the public. Under the guise of "Privacy" too many lousy businesses are protected from exposure. But if their products and hygiene aren't up to a minimum of safety, the public has a right to know. I'm sure it would encourage the bad businesses to make a change. The alternative would be to close down, because everyone would know how unsafe they are. And I can't see anything wrong in bad businesses closing down.
Rissie 4 years ago
The results of the NVWA are available online. https://www.openbare-inspectieresultaten.nvwa.nl/bedrijfsinspecties/horeca-veilig-eten-en-drinken. Also use your common sense when going inside a restaurant. If it looks dirty, chances are almost 100% the kitchen is no different. Same with attitude. Nasty attitudes from serving personel usually complement what's happening in the kitchen too.
Load More Replies... James Game 4 years ago
We have an open system in the UK where inspections can be viewed: https://ratings.food.gov.uk/
James016 4 years ago
It's a really useful site. It even has schools on there. Thankfully my sons school is rated 5
Load More Replies... Mazer 4 years ago
My parent had a restaurant, So I’ve been familiar with the inner workings since I was in my teens. Here’s some hints. The front windows are usually the last to get cleaned especially on the inside. Check them, if they’re neglected chances are other places in the restaurant are neglected as well. Dead or live flies are a NO GO. Then go check the bathroom, if the bathroom is disgusting chances are the kitchen is disgusting. You can say you’re waiting for a friend if a bus boy or any employee comes out and they’re wearing a dirty apron, go eat someplace else.
Brandy Grote 4 years ago
We just look at the front of the restaurant. It MUST post the health code grade on a large placard. Best grade is A. Anything less, look it up and see why. If they have no hot water or no cold food storage, pass. Even pests aren't as bad, since if a neighboring unit sprayed, bugs will go in there, and they will be visible when that place is under treatment, which means they are taking action! And just use your eyes. If the vents are dirty, chances sre the entire kitchen is not as clean as it could be. Bathrooms messy, or actually filthy? No soap or towels? No hot water, cleaning schedule, or ways to dry your hands? Guess who isn't going in there to clean up the room OR their hands!
Hans 4 years ago
Some countries require food safety inspections to be posted clearly visible on the outside of the premises. For example, Denmark has a Smiley system in place: https://www.findsmiley.dk/english/Pages/About.aspx I would always glance at these and whenever not all smileys were laughing I would read the fine print.
Sharon Ingram 4 years ago
Hack for avoiding food poisoning at restaurants - cook and eat at home.
Mike Weber 4 years ago
Tallahassee is in Leon County, not Dade. Those are Miami restaurants, most likely.
Kim Kermes 4 years ago
In California, inspection grades are posted outside the entrance, and inspections are published in the newspaper. Its so sad how little pride some owners, managers, and even employees have.
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