Apr 11, 2008 12:11 am US/Eastern
Cruddy Cafeterias: Fla. Might Pass Inspection Law
Find Out Which Miami-Dade Schools Failed To Meet Health Standatds
Click Here to view the inspection findings (PDF File)
MIAMI (CBS4) ―
A CBS4 I-Team Investigation revealed critical food safety violations found by state inspectors at some local school cafeterias were being hidden from parents. In so doing, the schools were breaking state and federal laws and the practice continues.
According to the Miami-Dade Health Department, such reports show roughly 1 out of 3 public schools are being cited for potentially serious health problems such as a "code 38". That's the official number for "vermin control" violations.
"Vermin bring disease. They bring dirt," said Ann Maria Alderman, administrator of the school cafeteria program at the Miami-Dade Health Department. Back in January, health inspectors cited Doral Middle School's cafeteria with 6 sanitation violations including vermin control. An inspector with the health department ordered the school to eliminate roaches from the kitchen area. According to Alderman, they had bugs in the kitchen. Nelson Goncalves said he never had seen the cafeteria inspection reports at his son's school. "No, not at all. But I think they're doing a pretty good job here," he added. By state law, school cafeteria inspection reports are public records. They're supposed to be available for anyone who wants to see them. And by federal law, those reports are supposed to be posted publicly and also available for parents or anyone else.
But South Florida's schools are still not posting them where parents can find them.
At Eugenia Thomas Elementary School, there are plenty of pictures and plaques in the office but no sanitation reports. When CBS4 Al Sunshine asked to see their latest health reports, staff called school police to escort him off the property.
Several months ago, a CBS4 I-Team investigation found that federal sanitation laws are enforced by local health inspectors. But they're not checking. "The people of our community owe a debt to Mr. Sunshine because he exposed this," said State Senator Aalex Villalobas.
Villalobas said he can't believe how sections of Florida's school inspection laws mandating public posting of health reports were quietly dropped several years ago without any public debate.
CBS4 findings have since prompted a new series of state proposals being debated in Tallahassee, forcing schools to tell parents what health inspectors are finding in their school cafeterias.
"I want to make sure that the last inspection report is posted in a prominently displayed place like we tried to do 10 years ago and actually since we have the Internet now, I think it would be a great idea to place that report on the website for the school," said Villalobos.
Miami-Dade's school system told CBS4 it would provide copies of cafeteria inspection reports for the schools visited. But the I-Team is still waiting for them. In the meantime, the health department found the latest cafeteria inspections at those schools: satisfactory.
The Florida legislature still has a few weeks remaining in its current session. CBS4 News will keep you posted if the cafeteria inspection law passes.
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