Would your kitchen get cited for health code violations during an inspection?
@beautyqueen26 (16030)
United States
August 11, 2007 3:33pm CST
Recently, I was reading over our local paper and they were listing some of the local restaurants that have been cited for seemingly minor health code violations. For instance did you know that it's a health code violation (at least here locally) for restaurants and fast food places to keep a can of trash within ten feet of the food preparation area? Of course it is! That just makes sense, right? But, how many people keep the same can of trash near a food preparation area in their own kitchen? Even if the can is five feet away from the stove, it would still be in violation of health codes (assuming you were running a restaurant).
And, I was wondering, how many things women (or men) do in their own kitchen that would otherwise be illegal in a regular restaurant? How many things that most of us consider perfectly normal, like leaving a wet sponge on the back of the sink would be considered to be a dangerous health code voilation? Or, leaving a used drinking cup on the counter? All health code violations! But, who isn't guilty of that? So, do you think your kitchen would get shut down if it were ever inspected?
3 people like this
10 responses
@DJules (55)
• United States
22 Aug 07
I'm sure it would, but it really doesn't matter, because I am cooking for only my own family, and have no employees.
A resteraunt is a completely different situation then a family kitchen. A resteraunt is serving large numbers of people, and has many people employed, so there have to be far stricter regulations in place.
@jcj_111776 (3216)
• Philippines
21 Aug 07
My kitchen would be cited no matter how hard I try to keep it clean. Because of the trash can. I've nowhere to put it for my kitchen area is just small. It's actually situated a few feet from the preparation area. I know it's not the proper place but there's no more available place to put it. That's why I bought a trash can with a cover. The thing where you step on something attached to it and it automatically opens up. I'm also aware of the germs hovering in my kitchen, so I usually use bleach on the sink area and the floors.
@cutepenguin (6431)
• Canada
12 Aug 07
Considering that my kitchen is only about 7 feet by 3 feet, including all the appliances, I would probably get cited for several violations.
@KrisNY (7590)
• United States
12 Aug 07
I am sure I would be cited for something ~ I don't have any garbage cans near my counters or stove- That is gross--
I do have a sponge on my sink though- I use it for a couple of times and then toss them- My sig. other thinks I'm anal because I won't use it for long- I don't keep glasses around either- they go right to the dishwasher- I don't drink out of it more than once. I know I'm weird-
@magicalmerlin (1623)
•
12 Aug 07
I thought my kitchen would probably be shut down because of the lack of disinfecting I did not realise about the bin and then we have a dog. Although his food is not actually in the kitchen he spends a lot of time there as it has a cool floor. Considering some of the things mentioned it is a surprise I am still alive!!!
@ladybug565 (2216)
• United States
12 Aug 07
wow, i work in a place that makes food and didnt know some of these rules. we must be doing ok though because we didnt get any violations. as for my home kitchen it would probably be condemned!! LOL! My kitchen is usually pretty messy as I work alot and have teenagers.
@carlaabt (3504)
• United States
11 Aug 07
Oh, I'm sure that I have lots of things in my kitchen that would be considered a violation if it was done in a retaurant. But since I usually just cook for my own family in my kitchen, it's not a big deal most of the time. For instance, when my son leaves part of a sandwich that he has been eating on the counter, I don't think much of it, because my husband and I aren't concerned about getting my son's germs.
We keep our dog's food and water bowls just outside of the kitchen, too. They sometimes bring their food into the kitchen, so I'm sure that would be a BIG no-no.
@AmbiePam (86085)
• United States
11 Aug 07
I would be guilty of the trash can violation. However, I live in an apartment and have a galley type kitchen. There is no room for it anywhere else! I keep the counters Windexed down, and nothing sits on the stove. There are no sponges on my sink, and I sometimes even disinfect the soap dispenser. This isn't OCD behavior, it is simply me knowing I live in a small space, and if I don't want to feel overwhelmed, I have to have some order. There is one thing I might be guilty of: the air quality. I have yet to figure out how, but the smoking from my upstairs neighbors frequently inhabits my apartment with that nasty smoky smell. : )
@wotfpatty (2065)
• United States
11 Aug 07
I would be shut down and cited. As much as I wish I were a neat freak, I am not and neither is anyone in this house. The kitchen is small so it's cluttered. However, my son works in a restaurant and knows all the violations about food handling and storing and he does tell me about them so we can be more healthy. I do have that stuff down and I hate sponges so I'm in the clear there (They are just teaming with germs, ugh). Otherwise, I am sure I violate codes all over as far as clutter goes and having the dry cat food in a bowl on the kitchen floor, etc. And overloading sockets? guilty! Sigh.
