Along with old food and warm refrigerators, bugs were an issue at Phoenix restaurants in May. Flies and cockroaches, found both dead and alive, wormed their way into local kitchens. Staff became the issue at some spots, forgetting to or opting out of washing their hands.
All of these issues pose a risk to food safety and the health of customers and staff. Maricopa County Health Inspectors visit restaurants all over the Valley every month to check in and course correct where needed.
The inspectors file reports, which are publicly available online. They note issues on two levels. Violations are issues that lead to larger problems, such as a lack of soap may cause staff to not wash their hands. Priority violations are more serious and pose a direct threat to safety…