Health Department Report

The following is a compilation of findings and actions by state and county health departments in Northeast Ohio.

Mentor - The Best Friends Restaurant on Center Street was found to have vegetables contaminated with blood from raw beef that was being cut into portions. The inspector found a total of four pages worth of problems, including persistent mold growth on a kitchen wall.

Seville - An inspector visited the East of Chicago Pizzeria to investigate a complaint from a former employee that said there were two cats wandering around the kitchen. The owner removed the cats and denied that they were brought in to chase away mice.

Seville - Customers were disgusted and frightened by numerous rats nesting and burrowing by a dumpster adjacent to the drive-thru at the McDonald's Restaurant at West 150th Street and Lorain Avenue. Records indicate others have complained about the rats over a period of months.

Strongsville - A customer at Pizza Hut complained of seeing a mouse caught in a trap pulling itself across the dining room floor.

University Heights - In response to a flyer for a place called "Come Smash at da Kitchen" being run out of the Euclid apartment building, an inspector tried to place an order.

"That's my s---. I'm on the lease. Don't come to my door, get the f--- out of here," the cook said.

"Come Smash at da Kitchen" remains closed.

Wickliffe - At the Shanghai Express Restaurant, a customer complained to the health department that they found a cockroach in their food. An inspector found an infestation of roaches present in the food-service area.

These are just a few of the circumstances inspectors encounter while enforcing public health laws related to eating establishments. Although these occurred in NE Ohio, I'm sure that similar conditions exist throughout the nation and attest to the need for vigorous enforcement of health standards.

And, for some reason, I can't shake the image of that poor mouse dragging himself across the dining room floor attempting to escape.