# Are State restaurant inspections considered public records and available for anyone to see? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [July 11, 2013, 11:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-state-restaurant-inspections-considered-public-records-and-available-for-anyone-to-see/663266 "2013-07-11T23:24:49Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2013, 11:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-state-restaurant-inspections-considered-public-records-and-available-for-anyone-to-see/663266/1 "2013-07-11T23:24:49Z")
I’m suspicious about a local barbecue restaurant. It used to be one of the best in the city for decades. They even had the concession at our local arena. Long lines at lunch. It’s gone downhill since the older relatives retired. Even at lunch it’s not packed. I’ve had a few upset stomachs after eating there. It’s hard to pinpoint for sure they were the culprit but barbecue has never bothered me before. Barbecue sauce could cover up meat that was a “little off”. It worries me. Are State restaurant inspections considered public records and available for anyone to see? Can I look this place up and see it’s inspection history and whether they’ve been cited for anything recently? I’ve been eating at this place for thirty years. I’ve cut back from five times a month to about once a month. It’s just not as good, the meat is tougher and more fat, but still the best I’ve found local. They use a vinegar based sauce instead of a tomato base. ---
**Author:** ![aNewLeaf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ac91a4/32.png) [@aNewLeaf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aNewLeaf)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2013, 11:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-state-restaurant-inspections-considered-public-records-and-available-for-anyone-to-see/663266/2 "2013-07-11T23:27:51Z")
Without knowing which state, I doubt anybody can give you a factual answer. I doubt details of the inspection would be public, but the final result probably is. ---
**Author:** ![IgnoranceIsMyExcuse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/ea666f/32.png) [@IgnoranceIsMyExcuse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IgnoranceIsMyExcuse)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2013, 11:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-state-restaurant-inspections-considered-public-records-and-available-for-anyone-to-see/663266/3 "2013-07-11T23:30:13Z")
I know the place you’re talking about and I believe the answer is yes. PM me if you want more details. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2013, 11:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-state-restaurant-inspections-considered-public-records-and-available-for-anyone-to-see/663266/4 "2013-07-11T23:31:52Z")
If a restaurant is cited for health code violation I think it would certainly be public information. I know it is here in RI. If there were no violations any information other than the fact that the restaurant was inspected may not be available to the public. A state’s Freedom of Information policy may require that details be made public, but I doubt the inspectors record much information if they don’t find violations. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2013, 11:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-state-restaurant-inspections-considered-public-records-and-available-for-anyone-to-see/663266/5 "2013-07-11T23:34:36Z")
My wife has been urging me to call in a report to the health dept. If I get tore up again then maybe it is time to call them. I know they buy their coleslaw already made. It should be ok unless they are leaving it out too long. The beans and barbecue are thoroughly cooked. I’m just not sure what could be the problem. I stopped ordering their coleslaw a few months ago. Just to see if that’s the culprit. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2013, 11:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-state-restaurant-inspections-considered-public-records-and-available-for-anyone-to-see/663266/6 "2013-07-11T23:41:46Z")
If you become ill again you can see a doctor and if he feels that food poisoning of some kind is the cause of your problem he should contact the Health Dept. himself. As a former restaurant owner I hate the thought of a surprise inspection because of someone’s coincidental illness, but if the place is maintaining standards they should be able to survive an inspection without serious consequences. You certainly have a right to inform the Health Dept. if you feel you’ve been sickened by food you were served. ---
**Author:** ![colonial](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/34f0e0/32.png) [@colonial](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/colonial)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2013, 11:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-state-restaurant-inspections-considered-public-records-and-available-for-anyone-to-see/663266/7 "2013-07-11T23:42:53Z")
In North Carolina HD restaurant inspection result certificates are required to be displayed prominently, I think near the cash register. You hardly ever see anything except for an A (= or \>90%). Not many cases of food poisoning, either, that I have ever heard of. I do not know if details are available upon request. IMO they should be. ---
**Author:** ![aNewLeaf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ac91a4/32.png) [@aNewLeaf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aNewLeaf)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2013, 11:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-state-restaurant-inspections-considered-public-records-and-available-for-anyone-to-see/663266/8 "2013-07-11T23:44:51Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > My wife has been urging me to call in a report to the health dept. If I get tore up again then maybe it is time to call them. Food-borne illness normally takes 24-48 hours to develop. If you are sick the same day, it’s probably not E coli, salmonella, or the usual suspects. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2013, 11:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-state-restaurant-inspections-considered-public-records-and-available-for-anyone-to-see/663266/9 "2013-07-11T23:48:16Z")
I’m a little gun shy. Back in 2004 the health dept closed our Western Sizzler. A place that I ate almost weekly. :eek: No hint of trouble either. I heard the report on my local news one night and nearly fell off the sofa. It never reopened either. The location was bulldozed about a year later and something else built there. I’ve seen documentaries on tv of dirty restaurants. It’s pretty stomach churning. For the health dept to completely close a restaurant means the business must have ignored prior warnings. It’s not that hard to clean up a dirty kitchen or do whatever is needed to satisfy the health codes. ---
**Author:** ![ducati](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/cc9497/32.png) [@ducati](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ducati)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2013, 12:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-state-restaurant-inspections-considered-public-records-and-available-for-anyone-to-see/663266/10 "2013-07-12T00:23:44Z")
A local rotisserie chicken chain had a store near us. They always had a 100 posted. Loved the place. Then, after selling that store to an individual, it went downhill. We stopped going, and eventually, they closed. A new owner opened up an “authentic Mexican” restaurant. They got a 13 on their first inspection and never opened again. Been 5 years, and the place sits empty! ---
**Author:** ![JRDelirious](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jrdelirious/32/9531_2.png) [@JRDelirious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JRDelirious)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2013, 12:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-state-restaurant-inspections-considered-public-records-and-available-for-anyone-to-see/663266/11 "2013-07-12T00:42:06Z")
I like the recently adopted NY City practice (used in other places as well IIRC): A big, bold letter grade posted right in the front window, with a lookup site address to see what were the infractions. Of course, said town being the world capital of chutzpah, one [NY restaurateur](http://midtownlunch.com/2010/09/20/cer-te-is-the-best-doh-disagrees/) who got a “B” proceeded to adhere, right next to it, his own sticker that said “EST”. The Bloombots were not amused and even busted them down to “C” next go-around. When finally everyone made nice, stopped acting hissy and complied, they could not resist doing something about [the much-coveted “A”.](http://www.flickr.com/photos/59445098@N00/5985478120/) ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2013, 12:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-state-restaurant-inspections-considered-public-records-and-available-for-anyone-to-see/663266/12 "2013-07-12T00:42:20Z")
In some places (Milwaukee for example), you can find them online. Based on that, I’d guess you could just walk into the health inspector’s office and ask for them. If it’s a small city, that might be all you need to do, if it’s larger city with lots going on, it might take a Freedom Of Information Act request. ---
**Author:** ![bump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7c8e57/32.png) [@bump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bump)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2013, 12:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-state-restaurant-inspections-considered-public-records-and-available-for-anyone-to-see/663266/13 "2013-07-12T00:47:31Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > Can I look this place up and see it’s inspection history and whether they’ve been cited for anything recently? I don’t know about Arkansas, but here in Texas, they often put the results on the news at the end of the week. Many cities (who does the inspection here) post the results online: [http://www2.dallascityhall.com/FoodInspection/SearchScores.cfm](http://www2.dallascityhall.com/FoodInspection/SearchScores.cfm) [http://discovery.cor.gov/public/health/healthtrak.nsf/WebScores?openview](http://discovery.cor.gov/public/health/healthtrak.nsf/WebScores?openview) (the 2 nearest cities to me) ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2013, 12:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-state-restaurant-inspections-considered-public-records-and-available-for-anyone-to-see/663266/14 "2013-07-12T00:57:30Z")
I found this news article. The records are available. I can’t find an online source for my county. I’ll call tomorrow and see if there’s a web site. The health dept didn’t do that great with this statewide FOI test. But I bet they are doing better now. 😉 [http://www.foiarkansas.com/1010/1010caldwell.html](http://www.foiarkansas.com/1010/1010caldwell.html) > [@](#): > > Telephones began ringing in regional supervisors’ offices shortly after county units of the state Health Department opened at 8 a.m. Aug. 23. > > People were walking into the offices asking for recent restaurant inspection reports, “whichever one you did last.” State sanitarians, who do restaurant inspections, wanted to know why. > > All they could do that day was guess, but they learned later the requests were part of a statewide survey to test compliance with the Arkansas Freedom of Information Act. The law allows citizens access to most government records, including restaurant inspection reports. > [@](#): > > In an interview in September, Boozman said he was very disappointed in the department’s performance and would take immediate steps to improve future compliance. > > Even though he hated it was his agency that was the least compliant, Boozman said he was glad the survey had been done. > > “Everybody in state government is going to be going through this,” he said. > > “When they read about what happened with us, this is going to cause a rethinking of this policy in all state agencies. So, as much as I wish it wasn’t our agency, I feel like this was a good exercise and one that we’re all going to learn from,” he said. ---
**Author:** ![Ferret\_Herder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e47774/32.png) [@Ferret\_Herder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ferret_Herder)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2013, 1:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-state-restaurant-inspections-considered-public-records-and-available-for-anyone-to-see/663266/15 "2013-07-12T01:00:57Z")
> [@aNewLeaf](#): > > Food-borne illness normally takes 24-48 hours to develop. > If you are sick the same day, it’s probably not E coli, salmonella, or the usual suspects. [Depends on the culprit](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Food_poisoning#Incubation_period); it could be only 1-6 hours if it’s due to a bacterial toxin. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Slant](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c57346/32.png) [@Mr.Slant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Slant)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2013, 2:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-state-restaurant-inspections-considered-public-records-and-available-for-anyone-to-see/663266/16 "2013-07-12T02:23:19Z")
The health department would be glad to talk to you about it in most towns. After a friend wound up in the hospital due to food poisoning from Papa Bears Italian Restaurant in Canton, Ohio the health department actually raided the place. This, however, was after my (fasting) friend wound up in the hospital for 3 days… ---
**Author:** ![jtur88](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e9c0ed/32.png) [@jtur88](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jtur88)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2013, 3:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-state-restaurant-inspections-considered-public-records-and-available-for-anyone-to-see/663266/17 "2013-07-12T03:53:54Z")
Here in Victoria, Texas, the local newspaper publishes the results of all the local restaurant inspections, naming the restaurants and listing the demerits. We have one famous restaurant that everybody loves, that gets a whole column of demerits every time. ---
**Author:** ![Mister\_Rik](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mister_rik/32/491_2.png) [@Mister\_Rik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mister_Rik)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2013, 4:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-state-restaurant-inspections-considered-public-records-and-available-for-anyone-to-see/663266/18 "2013-07-12T04:26:02Z")
Professional cook for 30 years here. I can only speak for Washington state, that being the only state I’ve ever worked in. Here, health inspections are handled at the county level, not the state level. I couldn’t find anything for my county, but it looks like you can look up the inspection records for King County (the county that includes Seattle): [http://info.kingcounty.gov/health/ehs/foodsafety/inspections/search.aspx](http://info.kingcounty.gov/health/ehs/foodsafety/inspections/search.aspx) I’m happy to report that no restaurant I’ve worked in has ever failed an inspection while I worked there, and nobody has reported food poisoning anywhere I’ve worked while I was there. The most serious violation I ever saw cited was a completely random, unintentional violation. A customer had brought in a fresh bone from an animal he’d butchered (I live in a rural farming community), and gave it to the bartender to take to his dog. The bartender tossed the bone (which was in a Zip-loc bag) into the walk-in cooler, intending to take it home at the end of his shift. Unfortunately, it landed on top of some pre-cooked deli meat for cold sandwiches. The health inspector showed up for a normal, random inspection a couple hours later, and nailed us for it. You simply don’t mix “uncooked meat” (which that fresh bone qualified as) with “ready-to-eat” food (which is what that pre-cooked deli meat counted as). Obviously, that problem was easy to fix: “Hey, bartender! Don’t do that again!” ---
**Author:** ![Mister\_Rik](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mister_rik/32/491_2.png) [@Mister\_Rik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mister_Rik)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2013, 4:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-state-restaurant-inspections-considered-public-records-and-available-for-anyone-to-see/663266/19 "2013-07-12T04:54:18Z")
Ha! Okay, and after posting that anecdote, I have to link to the current little storyline in one my favorite webcomics: [http://www.somethingpositive.net/sp07092013.shtml](http://www.somethingpositive.net/sp07092013.shtml) Just click “Next Comic” for the next two strips. (Sorry, I know, wrong forum, but I thought it was appropriate and funny) ---
**Author:** ![bump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7c8e57/32.png) [@bump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bump)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2013, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-state-restaurant-inspections-considered-public-records-and-available-for-anyone-to-see/663266/20 "2013-07-12T16:17:52Z")
> [@jtur88](#): > > Here in Victoria, Texas, the local newspaper publishes the results of all the local restaurant inspections, naming the restaurants and listing the demerits. We have one famous restaurant that everybody loves, that gets a whole column of demerits every time. Is it that crazy old deli I saw on “Texas Country Reporter”? [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-state-restaurant-inspections-considered-public-records-and-available-for-anyone-to-see/663266.md?page=2)