Florida tops list of states for food-borne illnesses -- South F...

You may want to think about picking your restaurant carefully if you are eating out in Florida, especially if you like seafood.

[den-]

I find this article to be a complete waste of my time. Checking the inspection results of restaurants I found the information to be incomplete and seems to be hiding the severely critical information. Were the critical information followed up on..... I didnt find that. If your going to present information to the public at least you can check the database sources and find out if it is of any value. I found no value in the information presented. This is symptomatic of what has happened in journalism in the past few years. Lazy journalists don't help the problems our governments present to us.

[Eric]

Just eat plants, and you'll be ok!

[Mitchell Pellecchia]

There was some decent information in this story--but where is the Florida restaurant manager perspective? Book authors and govt. employees is what I see. I managed restaurants in Ft. Lauderdale the first eight years I arrived in Florida. And was a reporter in and out of South Beach restaurants for two. What you'll find is, first, many illegals who grew to be adults in their own land without learning about washing hands after going to the bathroom or handling the dirty plates of others and an overall lack of hygeine experience. You'll frequently see servers, cooks and busboys touching their hair and mouth and then serving food. You'll also find at any restaurant, many people smoking cigarettes out back or in bathroom stalls, then coming inside and cooking and serving your food without first washing. Then there is of course bar sink water that doesn't get changed frequently enough (a major cause of Hep C) and a santizer bath with no sanitizer because someone forgot to order it or the bartender is to lazy to ask for it. I was able to improve the situation somewhat, but the bottom was, and continues to be, that restaurants in South Florida are stuck hiring many transients, and now cooking school grads, who may know how to cook, but don't know how to manage people. As unfortunate as it is to say, Haitain prep cooks are the most difficult to train because many refuse to learn or respect American ways--of course, there's nothing wrong with being proud until you poison the food. This comes from first hand experience, not a general attitude toward the Haitian people. You'll also find many workers doing drugs and drinking on the job in restaurants, including owners, and when this happens all sanitation practice goes out the window.

[Boca Bill]

Mmmmm,let's see now. Florida ranked high with food borne illness coupled with rude drivers, uninsured drivers, high crime rate, high housing costs, high homeowners insurance, high taxes, poor education, low paying jobs, unemployment rate increasing, quality of life on the decline, violation of Sunshine Laws, corrupt politicos and the list goes on and on.

Don't think the weather and beaches could off set this. Well, Welcome to Florida folks.

[we get what we pay for]

Mitchell--
Thanks for your informative comment. It seems to me that dirt and disease are the natural consequence of the usual way of doing business. It's similar to the problems with products from China--we'd rather absorb the costs of some bad products or illnesses than make these jobs something that people might want to stay in.

As for me, I tend to avoid ordering food that might cause problems, like warm-water shellfish. Is anyone noticing the gradual destruction of this wealthy country?

[Refugees]

Florida also leads the nation in restaurants cleaned by a hatian!

[ted]

i see that person is back among us. too bad they let him in to post.
just stay away from the buffets and you should survive.

[spindrift rider]

Eric wrote:

Just eat plants, and you'll be ok!

you're not reading the entire paper or not reading everyday. Did you miss the article on the recall of carrots at Publix?

[lucky]

I spent 30 years in the Food Service business, from experience the best operations healthwise are fast food chains and large hotels.Have been is so many kitchens in my life, that we rarely eat out.

Cruise ships are amongst the cl;eaness, many of the mom & pop independent operations should be closed.Totally agree with Mitchell,training immigrants is the most difficult task of operators.

With low salary scale guess what you attract as employees ?

[30 year restaurant guy]

Well said Mitchell!!

[skippy]

My wife usually refuses to go out to eat. She prefers to cook at home. Restaurant food often tastes like a microwaved TV dinner or something made by a 14 year old " chef ". Afterward, you anxiously wait to see if Mr NVD was on the menu.

Standards are too low in Florida to gamble with your health by eating out.

[Darden]

Florida is home to Darden!!
Enough said

[Mr Sensible]

Eric wrote:

Just eat plants, and you'll be ok!

Like spinach?

[the truth]

den- wrote:

I find this article to be a complete waste of my time. Checking the inspection results of restaurants I found the information to be incomplete and seems to be hiding the severely critical information. Were the critical information followed up on..... I didnt find that. If your going to present information to the public at least you can check the database sources and find out if it is of any value. I found no value in the information presented. This is symptomatic of what has happened in journalism in the past few years. Lazy journalists don't help the problems our governments present to us.

you must be one of the scum bum restruant owners who serve the garbage they call food in south florida

[the truth]

Refugees wrote:

Florida also leads the nation in restaurants cleaned by a hatian!

the truth of the matter is comming out now, these are not people, but acum, along, with the cubans, all of the south americans. Get rid of these clowns and things will improve

[What The Heck]

Well considering all the illegal scum here I have no doubt that this problem will never be corrected unless illegals are deported along with their filthy anchor whelps! 3rd world vermin!

[Clinton suxxxx]

Why dont all you whiners show how its done.. open your own restaurant !

Remember the public demands low prices but they want Ruth Chris service - so good luck !

PS ... No one is willing to do this kind of work so dont think anyone will be beating your door down for a job... and you'll be lucky if you can get some Haitains .... so good luck - you will need it.

[A Land Lord]

Boca Bill wrote:

Mmmmm,let's see now. Florida ranked high with food borne illness coupled with rude drivers, uninsured drivers, high crime rate, high housing costs, high homeowners insurance, high taxes, poor education, low paying jobs, unemployment rate increasing, quality of life on the decline, violation of Sunshine Laws, corrupt politicos and the list goes on and on.
Don't think the weather and beaches could off set this. Well, Welcome to Florida folks.

And they call this living in paradise! LOL!!

[goodjob]

Ya !! Floriduh`s number one

[Ira]

What about McDonald? Simply awful!!