*scores at bottom of article*
Hunt County Health Department (HCHD) conducts health inspections every day at local businesses. In Commerce, they conduct at least two health inspections a year at all establishments that serve food.
Health inspection scores for establishments not only in Commerce, but all over Hunt County, can be found by visiting the HCHD Web site at www.huntcountyhealth.com.
There are five levels of health inspection scores in Hunt County. The scores are based on categories, such as food temperature/time requirements, personnel/handling/source requirements and facility/equipment requirements.
While the HCHD inspector conducts visits to different establishments, demerits are given if any violations are found. The total number of demerits added up is what determines the scores for establishments.
The five levels of health inspection scores are excellent (0-3), good (4-10), average (11-19), poor (20-29) and failing (30+).
“Businesses can be shut down, but it depends on what the problem is and how critical the problem is. If it’s something like the plumbing backing up into the kitchen, the place would likely be shut down until it’s fixed,” HCHD lab director Joe Lilly said.
The idea of health inspections also sheds light on how people might choose what restaurants to eat at locally.
“I would much rather eat at a restaurant with an excellent or good rating than one with an average or poor rating,” undergraduate Ashley Arrington said.
“Some of the scores surprised me; I think that knowing the score would have an impact on where I eat,” Events coordinator Stephanie Peebles said.
Different businesses in Commerce have received varying scores during health inspections.
Braum’s and C&C Catfish both received perfect scores.
“I think it’s great, I think it’s excellent,” Braum’s manager Charlotte Harrod said.
“It shows the hard work and cleanliness of the establishment,” C&C owner Paula Cruz said.
While the majority of Commerce businesses received excellent or good scores, there were still some that received average or poor scores in the past year.
Chicken Express received a score of 19, but according to owner Cary McDale, the problems were all minor. McDale said that the problems were the temperatures being wrong by a few degrees, an ice machine being left open briefly, condensation from air conditioning getting on ceiling tiles and an employee not wearing a hat. Overall, a few minor problems can and did add up for Chicken Express.
“I don’t think that the score accurately portrays the way I run my business. I wish they (HCHD) would publish the inspections, and show what the problems were, so people could see,” McDale said.
Since the inspection, McDale has replaced the ceiling tiles, posted correct temperatures on appliances, has extra hats for employees and has also instructed all employees to close the covers to the ice machine after every use.
In addition to fixing the problems, McDale has made sure that all of his managers are food safety certified.
“I absolutely want perfect scores every time they (HCHD) come in, I do my best I can do to comply,” McDale said.
Scores for local businesses as of 3/13/08
Key 0-3 = Excellent4-10 = Good11-19 = Average20-29 = Poor30 & Above = Fails
Black Jack BBQ – 0Braum’s – 0 Brookshire’s – 0C&C Catfish – 0Cajun Cones – 0Chicken Express – 19Commerce Quick Stop – 14Cowhill Express – 0Domino’s Pizza – 0E-Z Mart – 0 Fred’s – 4Holiday Inn Express – 18Kim’s Donuts – 4 Lone Star Pizza Works – 12Los Mochis – 3LuLu’s – 0McDonald’s – 14Molina’s – 16Mr. Minit Food mart – 14M&S Gas Stop – 0Paesano – 8Panda Chinese – 11Pizza Hut – 8 Quick Track – 0Sonic – 0Spot Brewery – 0 Subway – 13Super Stop – 0Sweetie’s Donuts – 3Taco Bell – 20Tasty China – 9Temeraia’s – 9Wal-Mart Deli – 14