Eat Off the Floor

We've all been to a restaurant that was...how can I put this nicely...um....well, gross.  Dirty silverware, yucky bathrooms, maybe a bug or two running around.  No way you'd go back to that place, right?  How did they ever pass inspection?

Well, a new study has shown that most people's home kitchens probably would not pass a typical restaurant inspection.  Is your refrigerator at the correct temperature?  Do you store meats properly?  Is there pet hair near preparation areas?  Do you rinse off all vegetables and fruits? 

While most restaurants rate an A or B with these inspection criteria, most home kitchens would not do so well.  In fact, according to the survey, 14% would fail.

"I would say if they got below a C, I'm not sure I would like them to invite me to dinner," said Dr. Jonathan Fielding, director of the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health.

These results were compiled from an Internet survey, not actual home inspections.  So, because most of the respondents were probably people interested in food safety and related topics, the actual results are probably much more negative.  If you had a fridge that didn't work right and bugs running around your kitchen, would you want to complete this survey? 

Read more about the survey in this AP story.