WESTPORT — All Wetsport businesses that had health inspections in January and February passed with a score greater than 80, officials reported.
Cooper said Westport there are occasional failures, but if violations are detected in the country, they try to fix it immediately due to the lack of certified food inspectors.
Cooper said the shortage makes it difficult to get inspectors to do a follow-up, so they try to fix problems as they are discovered, working with businesses to do so.
Although all of the businesses inspected passed by the start of 2023, Cooper said different grading systems are used depending on the type of facility.
“You can get an 86 on a restaurant inspection,” he said. “It might be safer than someone getting a 96.”
Cooper said that’s because a restaurant with 96 could have received a four-point violation, which is more serious, such as leaving food on the counter overnight to serve customers, rather than having numerous minor infractions. This did not happen for any location inspected in January and February.
A four-point violation would be an automatic failure.
Right now, though, Cooper said it’s a slower time for restaurants, which may help explain why they all went through.
Crate and Barrel received a score of 100, although the documents state that food was not present at the time of inspection.
Terrain Cafe scored a 96, Shearwater Coffee Bar scored a 93, Granola Bar scored an 81, Hissho Sushi scored a 99 and Rizzuto’s Oyster Bar and Restaurant scored an 83.
Stop & Shop, at 1790 Post Road East, scored 95; Dunkin’ at 23 Bridge Street, had a 96; McDonalds at 701 Post Road East received a 99 and Walgreens at 880 Post Road East also scored a 99.
The 1510 Post Road East Exxon location received a 96; Cumberland Farms, at 690 Post Road East, received a 99; and Shell at 1530 Post Road East and 332 Post Road East scored 95.
Cooper said the current classification system can be misleading, but it is going away. It will be replaced with a US Food and Drug Administration code classification system, which he believes will help with food safety.
“The transition will put more emphasis on actual things that potentially endanger people’s health than cosmetics,” he said.
kayla.mutchler@hearstmediact.com
