Violations found during the inspection are recorded as demerits and are separated into three groups. Priority Violations (3 demerits) – These violations are critical to ensuring the food served to the public is properly cooked and served in a safe and sanitary manner. Priority Foundation Violations (2 demerits) – These violations are critical to supporting the employee’s knowledge of procedures to provide safe food in a well equipped kitchen. Core Violations (1 demerit) – These violations are documented when the businesses are not maintaining their physical facilities and equipment to the minimum standards.
There is not a failing score. However, state law does indicate that when total demerits exceed 30, “the establishment shall initiate immediate corrective action on all identified critical violations and shall initiate corrective action on all other violations within 48 hours.”
It is important to remember that the scores here represent only a snapshot of the facility at the time the inspector arrived. The conditions could be better or worse while an inspector is not present.
Food Establishment Inspections