The Erie County Health Department has given the green-light for the cafeteria to re-open Tuesday at the Stanley Makowski Early Childhood Center. The cafeteria was shut-down for a week after rodent droppings were discovered in the food prep area. WBFO's Focus on Education Reporter Eileen Buckley spoke with the health commissioner the latest inspection report.
“We are advising the school that they can resume food preparation on site,” Dr. Gail Burstein, Erie County Health Commissioner.
A re-inspection was conducted Monday that deemed the school ready to reopen the cafeteria.
The health department report rodent droppings in areas were food is prepared, such as the kitchen, located behind cooking equipment, around the wall in the dining area and an area below shelving units were dry goods are stored. On Friday a re-inspection failed, but by Monday, the situation changed.
“However, we are strongly advising them to continue cleaning and sanitizing all food prep services prior to the first use in the morning and that they conduct daily monitoring for any possible contamination. Also, we did find evidence of rodents in other parts of the building, so we are advising they continue their extermination process,” explained Burstein.
The latest health department inspection states 'no evidence of current rodent activity’ in food prep, food storage or dining areas. But the health department recommends the school continue to monitoring for any 'new or recurring' evidence.
"No evidence of current rodent activity in food prep, food storage or dining areas, resume food
preparation on site. Continue to clean and sanitize all food prep surfaces prior to first use daily, and
monitor for any contamination daily until problem is deemed eliminated. "Lower boat" (room 41) radiator
cases to be cleaned and sanitized. Continue monitoring program or all areas for new or recurring
evidence of rodent activity," stated in the Food Service Establishment Inspection Report.
The Health Department conducts regular reviews of school cafeterias.
The Buffalo Public School District issue a statement from Dr. Kevin Eberle, Chief Operations Officer, in response to the inspection report:
"An Erie County Department of Health re-inspection took place at #99 Stanley Makowski this morning. The school cafeteria and all food service operation areas have been cleared to fully resume operations beginning tomorrow, March 1st. Breakfast will continue to be served in all classrooms on a daily basis.
We consider the health and safety of the students in all of our schools to be a top priority. We have provided guidelines for all school administrators to work with their chief engineers in regularly reviewing areas of their building in order to maintain optimum health and safety conditions."
