February 15-Leger's Restaurant Report

February 15, 2008 7:40 PM

Bill Leger

All week viewers have been contacting us concerning internet reports of a study that found a majority of lemons served with drinks in restaurants were contamined with bacteria that can make you sick. We confirmed the results of the study with the New Jersey microbiologist who conducted the research. Here's what she found.

Lemon Study

69.7% Bacterial Growth (including fecal)

30.3% No Bacterial Growth

Source: Anne LaGrange Loving, M.S., M.(A.S.C.P.)

A microbiologist from New Jersey tested 76 lemons from 21 different restaurants and found that almost 70 percent of them were contaminated with bacteria including fecal bacteria, which can make you very sick.

Only 30-percent had no bacterial growth. Anne LaGrange Loving said the bacteria could have come from a number of sources and may have been on the lemons even before they arrived at the restaurants.

Restaurant workers are supposed to handle lemons with either gloves or tongs..and not with bare hands.. but how many of them actually do that?

And how would you know whether or not they're following the rules? We asked the Chief Sanitarian of the Beaumont Health Department for some suggestions for people who are concerned about the results of this study.

Sandra Girard suggested simply asking the waiter or waitress to serve the drink without the lemon slice. She also suggested requesting that the lemon slices be placed in a separate bowl and not on the rim of the glass. Now here are the latest restaurant inspection results from Hardin County.

DAIRY QUEEN 1180 North 5th Street in Silsbee/GRADE= 50 (Follow-Up= 85)

We begin with Dairy Queen on North 5th Street in Silsbee. Inspector Kellum found the restaurant equipment so dirty that she ordered the restaurant closed for cleaning. The men's rest room was also broken and needed to be repaired. Initially Dairy Queen in Silsbee earned a failing grade of 50.. But when the inspector returned for a follow-up they improved to an 85.

DAIRY QUEEN 827 North Main in Lumberton/Grade=65 (Follow-Up=90)

Inspector also found problems at the Dairy Queen on North Main in Lumberton. Inspector Kellum reports dishes were dirty and needed to be rewashed. The freezer and microwave were dirty and needed to be cleaned. No one was washing hands and employees needed hair restraints. Dairy Queen in Lumberton initially scored a failing grade of 65.. But on the follow-up they showed a dramatic improvement and scored a 90.

Country Dreams

11846 Minter Road

Kountze

Grade=100

Burge Fish and Seafood

4805 Hwy 69 Lumberton

Grade=100

Domino's Pizza

3026 South Main

Lumberton

Grade=100

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