By Michael Hill
Correspondent
Jesse Powell will log a lot of miles walking the streets of Plainfield to inspect hundreds of restaurants and food establishments for safety to comply with state health laws.
When asked if she’s finding a lot of violations, Denise Proctor said, “It ranges from food storage would be the major violation but not a lot of violations at this time, no.”
Proctor took over as the city’s health officer two months ago.
She says the department’s top priority is inspecting food establishments that have had violation issues. Then it’s on to ones that haven’t been inspected in a year or two.
So far, no violations serious enough to shut any down. But, she said, “If a major problem there we will absolutely close them down.”
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says every year food-borne diseases make one in six Americans sick, hospitalizes 128,000 and kills 3,000.
Plainfield says it has no reports of any food poisoning.
But, according to the mayor of Plainfield, the previous administration was using a part-time inspector from Union County to get the job done. The result: hundreds of restaurants went years without required inspections.
The city just hired a part-time inspector and plans to finish the inspection of all 350 food establishments by April next year.
“We will do those inspections to get confidence back in Plainfield and in our eating establishments,” said City Administrator Rick Smiley.
Mayor Adrian Mapp was on the council before becoming mayor in January. But he denies any responsibility. He says he did not get involved in the day-to-day running of the city. It was a broken system as a result of an absence of leadership. Mayor Mapp says there will be no shortcuts or corners cut.
“I assure the public we have their health and well being as foremost in our minds,” he said.
Reassuring news to some.
“they are bringing hormones and all of these other things and all of that is killing us. So I really want to know that everything else is safe and that they are preparing it safe and everything is up to code,” said Kevin Hudson.
The health officer says it’s a matter of re-education.
“Yes we are encouraging safe handling practices with at least one individual in the area to make sure that they are trained in food handling. We believe in train the trainers so that individual can teach the rest of the staff,” said Proctor.
She has some advice for food establishments: when in doubt throw it out.
For consumers: “I would just be moree vigilant as far as seeing what you are eating and making sure that individuals are washing their hands in between handling money, handling food. Common sense practices.”
For now, Plainfield is looking for another part-time health inspector to catch up.