Four Rockland Restaurants Ace Health Inspections; 20 Face Major Violations in August

Overview of Health Inspections in Rockland County

Rockland County recently released new reports detailing the results of 49 health inspections conducted in August. According to the findings, 20 of these establishments had critical violations, four showed no violations at all, and 44 had unfixed violations from previous inspections. These numbers highlight ongoing concerns about food safety standards across the county.

New York State is home to over 90,000 food service establishments, which include a wide range of venues such as schools, nursing homes, and private kitchens. The inspections cover any public or private facility that uses an on-site kitchen to serve food. Due to the high volume of establishments inspected each month, only a selection of the highest and lowest rated restaurants are highlighted in the reports.

Individuals interested in checking current or past inspection reports can access this information through data.lohud.com. This platform provides transparency and allows the public to stay informed about the health conditions of local food service providers.

Restaurants with the Most Health Violations

Several Rockland County eateries were identified for having significant health violations during their inspections in August. Here are some of the most notable cases:

• Town Plaza Bagel (500 Route 303, Orangeburg) – 8 total violations, including 2 critical and 6 non-critical.
• Pizza Mia Pasta (14 Thiells Mount Ivy Road, Pomona) – 7 total violations, with 3 critical and 4 non-critical.
• Fancy Buffet Haitian Restaurant (238 Route 9W, Haverstraw) – 6 total violations, including 1 critical and 5 non-critical.
• New Go Ba Woo (4 Route 303, Tappan) – 6 total violations, with 1 critical and 5 non-critical.
• Sitar Palace (38 Orangetown Shopping Center, Orangeburg) – 6 total violations, including 1 critical and 5 non-critical.
• Sakura Japanese Cuisine (22 Holt Drive, Stony Point) – 6 total violations, all non-critical.
• Bari (86 Main Street, Nyack) – 5 total violations, all non-critical.
• Patisserie Didier Dumas (163 Main Street, Nyack) – 5 total violations, including 2 critical and 3 non-critical.
• The Filling Station (45 South Route 9W, West Haverstraw) – 5 total violations, with 1 critical and 4 non-critical.
• United Deli & Convenience Store (500 Route 303, Orangeburg) – 5 total violations, including 1 critical and 4 non-critical.

These violations must be addressed promptly. Critical violations require immediate correction, while non-critical ones need to be resolved within a specified timeframe.

Flawless Health Inspections in Rockland County

In contrast, several establishments received perfect scores with no violations found during their inspections. These include:

• Pals Neighborhood Bagel & Deli (95 North Highland Avenue, Nyack)
• Mountainview Deli (14 Thiells Mount Ivy Road, Pomona)
• Aunt Mia's (78 Route 303, Tappan)
• Forgia Brick Oven Pizzeria (1 Suffern Place, Suffern)

These restaurants demonstrated excellent adherence to health and safety standards, ensuring a safe dining experience for customers.

Understanding Critical and Non-Critical Violations

According to the New York State Department of Health, critical violations involve factors that could directly lead to foodborne illness. These include issues related to food source and condition, cooking and storage temperatures, sanitary practices of food workers, water and sewage systems, pest contamination, and the use of toxic materials.

Non-critical violations, also known as blue violations, do not pose an immediate risk but may affect the overall operation of the establishment. These typically relate to maintenance, design, and cleanliness. While less urgent than critical violations, they still require attention and must be fixed within the timeframe provided by the health inspector.

Frequency of Health Inspections

The frequency of health inspections in New York state varies depending on the risk category of the establishment and its compliance history. High-risk facilities, such as table-service restaurants and school kitchens, are inspected twice per year. Medium-risk establishments, like pizza places and sandwich shops, are inspected once annually. Low-risk venues, such as bars and coffee shops, are inspected every other year.

Health inspectors in each county are trained by the New York State Department of Health to ensure consistent and standardized inspections across the state. More information about local health departments can be found at health.ny.gov.

Reporting Health Violations

If individuals suspect a food establishment is violating health standards, they can report it to the Rockland County Health Department. An inspector will then investigate the complaint. To file a report, visit health.ny.gov/environmental/indoors/food_safety/complaints.htm.

Additional Information

For those interested in reviewing past inspection data, there were 7 Rockland eateries with flawless inspections in July, and 5 had critical violations. Localized versions of this story are published by the USA TODAY Network, using data scraped from local health department websites. Feedback and corrections can be submitted through the designated link, and readers are encouraged to take a survey to share their thoughts. This article was written by Ozge Terzioglu.