Restaurant Inspection Information Site On The Way

A new Web site that would allow restaurant-goers to get better information on health inspection reports is on the way. State health officials say the Georgia Enviromental Health Information System site will include inspection forms with specific violations and inspector notes, allowing consumers to better understand what a health inspection score means. A state health spokesperson says the site should be available sometime near year’s end.

New Food Safety Rule

Georgia's new food safety code just got three times longer, but the new rules are meant to make people safer.

Among the changes that took place December 1st, a new restaurant scoring system. Restaurants will now receive both a letter and a number grade, similar to a report card. That report must be posted no more than 15 feet from the door.

Donna Cadwell is with Bibb County's Environmental Health Division in Macon. She supervises four inspectors and over 600 food establishments. She says employees will also be required to wear gloves, whenever they handle food like sandwiches.

"Once the food is ready, food beverage or ice is ready to go in a customer's mouth to be consumed, than the employee cannot handle that without a utensil or glove."

Restaurants will also be required to purchase commercial equipment. The new guidelines are similar to a federal code.