Inspectors find violations in Suffolk school cafeterias

Health inspections of Suffolk's public school cafeterias in recent months found violations ranging from egg salad not being kept cold enough to mouse feces on spice containers, according to county records.

Yet countless other violations might remain undetected because Department of Health Services inspections of 72 percent of public schools in Suffolk are overdue, some by as long as four years, the county legislature's presiding officer said yesterday.

William Lindsay (D-Holbrook) directed his staff to look into cafeteria inspections after hearing that health department officials were understaffed, and he decided to announce findings after reading Newsday's series on school food. "I think this should be a top priority," he said. "The kids are more prone to food-borne diseases."

Lindsay is to announce today funding for six new health inspectors, or "sanitarians," in the legislature's budget proposal, which would bring the total to 22.

"It's disturbing," he said. "They're supposed to be inspected every six months ... I think the obvious problem is we don't have enough people."

Using the county health department's Web site, Lindsay's staff found 249 out of 347 public schools are past due on inspections.

Health department public health protection bureau chief Christopher Sortino said some uninspected locations may be smaller schools where food prepared at another campus is delivered to the cafeteria. "Not being able to get to every district, we do try to get to the main kitchen in that district," he said, citing understaffing.

Nassau's health department also inspects school cafeterias unannounced. Unlike Suffolk, Nassau's records are not kept online and were not available yesterday.

Lindsay said recent violations highlight the need to maintain regular surprise inspections. During a June 6 inspection of the cafeteria at Smithtown High School West, mouse feces were found on containers of paprika, pepper, garlic and sugar, records show. Muffins, boxes of cocoa and cornstarch, a bag of potato chips and two tea bags were gnawed. Smithtown administrators could not be reached yesterday.

An inspection last month at Bellport High School found that deli ham, sliced tomatoes, and chicken, egg and tuna salads were not kept cold enough on the serving line, records show.

Raymond Walsh, the district's interim superintendent, said new equipment is being purchased to deal with that violation and others. However, the money - between $500,000 and $600,000 - will come from the food service's fund balance at a time when school food directors say they struggle financially to serve healthier food.

Walsh said replacing antiquated equipment will improve meal quality. "It will have a positive impact on how the food is prepared and presented to our students," he said.

Maureen Dutcher, assistant superintendent for business of Bay Shore schools, said the district is working out costly construction plans to resolve a May 2 violation at South Country Elementary, where food was found too close to a contamination source.

Dutcher said the problem stemmed from roof drains running through the ceiling over a freezer and a pantry. Health officials have not directed cafeteria workers to stop putting food there, she said.

There have been regular inspections in the district, Dutcher noted, sometimes more than every six months. "She stops in periodically without notice," Dutcher said of the inspector.