Personal Injury Law

Food safety flashback: Arizona restaurant closed for inadequate bathroom facilities in June 1944

By Dr. Doug Powell

The Arizona Daily Star online (www.arizonastarnet.com) posted an article from June 8, 1944 in which a bar and restaurant were closed for inadequate toilet facilities.  

Acting on instructions from [the] chief sanitarian of the city-county health department, the city license department yesterday revoked the licenses and ordered the closing of the La Cabana Bar and Jimmy's Chicken Shop, both located at 227 South Meyer Street. The licenses were taken up and the places closed…

In the case of the La Cabana Bar, [it is noted] that there are not adequate toilet facilities for the employees and tenants of four apartments on McCormick Street. The public has been using the back yard for such purposes, and the bar is to be closed until such time as toilet facilities are installed at the bar and at the apartments.

Similar reasons were given in the order for the closing of the restaurant, stating that flies from the back yard are swarming over the food in the eating place. The restaurant may not be reopened until toilet facilities are provided and the back yard cleaned up….

Although restaurant inspection has changed over the years, similar dirty establishments still exist today; however, consumers don't always need to rely on the local paper to get inspection information. Starting in San Diego County, California in 1947, inspection grades were posted at the premise to inform the public about the results of the most recent health inspection. Many counties followed suit, and today concerned consumers in some areas can access inspection information at the premise, online, or through request at the health department. Inspection information in Arizona is available online, at azcentral.com.

Full post as published by BarfBlog on June 17, 2009 (boomark / email).