Jasper
7-14-05, 09:50 AM
A popular Mexican restaurant in Enterprise is back in business after a very brief shutdown last week by the Coffee County Health Department.
Health Department officials reported that the restaurant has passed a health and safety inspection and is back open after the incident involving a goal carcass.
Public Health Environmentalist Wanda Edberg visited El Patio, in the West Gate Shopping Center, June 28 in response to a complaint from someone who saw a goat behind the restaurant.
Edberg said she found that a goat carcass was being processed in the back portion of the kitchen in an area she believes was primarily used for storage. Edburg said she is confident that the goat was being processed for personal use and was not intended for consumption by customers. However, health department standards require that all meat products in a restaurant have a USDA stamp of approval, regardless of whether the products are processed for personal use or for sale. The products must have a mark that indicates they have been "Inspected and Passed."
The goat's presence in the restaurant also presented another problem, Edberg said, because the restaurant is not licensed to process meat. The Health Department issues permits only for preparation of processed meat from an approved source.
Edburg ordered the restaurant to be closed until the goat carcass was removed and the restaurant was cleaned and sanitized. Restaurant owners complied and once the cleaning was done, Edburg reinspected the restaurant and approved it for reopening. She said the restaurant remained closed for about two hours.
Health Department environmentalists visit on a quarterly basis all restaurants, school kitchens and other facilities where food is prepared, but may do so more often when complaints have been received.
Restaurants receiving an inspection score below 85 must be visited again within 30 days to ensure that problems are being corrected and to ensure that the facility is meeting health and safety standards.
Health Department officials reported that the restaurant has passed a health and safety inspection and is back open after the incident involving a goal carcass.
Public Health Environmentalist Wanda Edberg visited El Patio, in the West Gate Shopping Center, June 28 in response to a complaint from someone who saw a goat behind the restaurant.
Edberg said she found that a goat carcass was being processed in the back portion of the kitchen in an area she believes was primarily used for storage. Edburg said she is confident that the goat was being processed for personal use and was not intended for consumption by customers. However, health department standards require that all meat products in a restaurant have a USDA stamp of approval, regardless of whether the products are processed for personal use or for sale. The products must have a mark that indicates they have been "Inspected and Passed."
The goat's presence in the restaurant also presented another problem, Edberg said, because the restaurant is not licensed to process meat. The Health Department issues permits only for preparation of processed meat from an approved source.
Edburg ordered the restaurant to be closed until the goat carcass was removed and the restaurant was cleaned and sanitized. Restaurant owners complied and once the cleaning was done, Edburg reinspected the restaurant and approved it for reopening. She said the restaurant remained closed for about two hours.
Health Department environmentalists visit on a quarterly basis all restaurants, school kitchens and other facilities where food is prepared, but may do so more often when complaints have been received.
Restaurants receiving an inspection score below 85 must be visited again within 30 days to ensure that problems are being corrected and to ensure that the facility is meeting health and safety standards.