After ‘targeted harassment,’ MS Health Department alters restaurant inspections
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- MSDH replaced inspector names with alphanumeric ID codes to reduce targeted harassment.
- Inspections apply uniform checklists across all kitchens, from fine dining to food trucks.
- Owners report inconsistent enforcement and allege bribery; MSDH urges formal complaints.
Something is different on Mississippi’s inspection reports that show how a restaurant, school cafeteria or other commercial kitchen scored for safety and cleanliness.
Until now, the public could go on the Mississippi Health Department website and see how restaurants performed on their inspection that is done at least annually, and more often when deemed necessary.
The kitchens score an A if the inspector finds no violations, a B if any violations are caught and corrected during the inspection and a C when a critical health violation is found.
The public also could see the name of the inspector who did the most recent inspection and for prior years.
Revealing the inspectors’ identity became an issue, said Greg Flynn, external affairs and media relations director for the health department.
“MSDH did change to ID codes as some inspectors were being singled out in newspaper articles and social media posts, which led to targeted harassment,” he said.
Inspectors now are identified as 9MR, LM1 or a similar combination of letters and a number to protect their identity.
How inspections work
Mississippi has nine districts and the inspectors in District 9 work in the three Coast counties and across the next three counties, from Lucedale to Picayune.
Inspectors typically visit about 100 restaurants and kitchens a week in South Mississippi, or more than 400 a month. In October, 15 restaurants failed with a C. One of those failed twice because there were still violations when the inspector returned for a follow-up inspection. Another 33 scored a B and 332 passed with an A, or more than 80%.
The inspectors work with a list that is the same for fine dining and for food trucks. They first check to see there is a certified manager, who has taken a food safety course and passed the test. Keeping certified managers has been an issue in South Mississippi since COVID.
The inspectors check to make sure employees aren’t eating, drinking, smoking or have a runny nose while preparing food for their customers. They look to see that staff members wash their hands and the handwashing facilities are adequate, another issue where those who score a C frequently fail when the inspector objects to the setup.
They also are looking to see that foods are kept at the proper temperature, raw meat is separate from other ingredients and the food is in good condition and not out of date.
Counters must be cleaned and sanitized, and cleaning products must be properly stored and used. No trace of bugs, rodents or animals can be spotted. And when the inspection is complete, the restaurant owner must post the grade in a spot where customers can see it — even if it’s a C.
Restaurants also want protections
While the new code names adopted by MSDH protect inspectors, restaurant owners tell the Sun Herald they are being targeted by inspectors, but are afraid to report it because they fear retaliation with a failing grade.
One owner who has more than one restaurant in South Mississippi said the inspections are inconsistent. What passes at one location fails at another with the same conditions, the owner said.
Another person anonymously contacted the Sun Herald and said an inspector was being bribed by some restaurant owners, who would give the inspector money as sponsorships for the inspector’s kids’ sports teams in exchange for an A. The complaint said the inspector would fail restaurants “again and again” if the owners didn’t give the inspector money.
There are processes for restaurant owners to file a complaint, and Flynn said the health department would “absolutely” ask anyone with these type of accusations to let MSHD know by filing an official complaint through the website or by calling their food protection division at 601-364-2832.
They also can contact the department from an anonymous email address at food@msdh.ms.gov and detail the situation.
