Even the City Hall cafeteria has escaped scrutiny. As of Wednesday, it hadn't been inspected in 13 months. But a tough schedule on a tight budget isn't the only problem facing the department's food-protection program. Even the program's new manager has no formal training in food safety. The city food code lacks serious financial penalties, so it poses little threat and sometimes is hard to enforce.
Inspectors also apply food-safety rules inconsistently.
And though most food establishments get good inspection scores, the city sometimes fails to close restaurants with serious health deficiencies. It lacks crucial food-safety measures. Though the department is drafting a modern code, it may not take effect until 2002. Restaurants should be the cleanest places, because that's where the chance of food-borne illness outbreaks is the highest. Department officials recognize that late inspections may endanger public health.