Fresh Grocer is free of health violations

Though new health code citations continue to pop up across campus, Fresh Grocer and Bon Appetit Management Company have addressed last semester’s violations.

According to Business Services spokeswoman Barbara Lea-Kruger, Bon Appetit, Penn’s dining services provider, has addressed all previous violations. However, in order to be certified, the Philadelphia Department of Public Health must re-inspect and approve the sites, Lea-Kruger said.

Fresh Grocer, which faced health code violations earlier this year, is now in compliance with Philadelphia health code standards, according to the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture.

“During the course of our nearly-completed renovation, we were able to fully address any food-handling, facility, decor and merchandising issues that were previously brought to our attention,” Fresh Grocer spokeswoman Carly Spross wrote in an e-mail.

She added that the store will host a “Grand Re-Opening” next month. New features include a sushi bar, gourmet cheese station and new equipment, among other renovations.

Although some establishments cited with health code violations earlier this year have addressed the issues, other eateries have run into more recent violations.

Since July, Smokey Joe’s, Cream & Sugar and Allegro Pizza, among others, have been cited with health code violations. When a violation is issued, the Food Protection division of the Philadelphia Department of Public Health schedules a follow-up inspection, paid for by the establishment, to ensure compliance.

However, according to Lea-Kruger, due to a short-staffed public health department and because priority is given to new potential violations, follow-up inspections are delayed for many venues — including some of Penn’s dining halls. So far, Houston Market, Hillel and King’s Court Dining Hall, among others, have completed the process.

Lea-Kruger wrote in an e-mail that Bon Appetit and Business Services have been working directly with the Philadelphia Department of Public Health and through Penn’s Office of Government and Community Affairs in order to “speed up this process.” She added that “the Health Department has been responsive and we expect to complete this process soon.”

According to the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture, unless complaints are received or violations are issued, state food and drink establishments are inspected once per year.

The Department of Agriculture divides violations into two categories. “Foodborne Illness Risk Factors” include hygiene, food storage temperature and other factors that can affect consumers’ health, while other violations fall under the “Good Retail Practices” category and have “less potential to cause a significant foodborne illness.”

Restaurant health code compliance can be found online at the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture’s website.

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