“The pass/fail system is a failure because an industry leader, who has highly trained and highly qualified, nationally renowned food safety standards ought not be mislabeled based on minor infractions,” says Putnam. The ABC report, however, details infractions that were anything but minor. Citing the state inspections, the report reveals seven stores with failing grades for a variety of reasons including “numerous rodent droppings,” dangerous temperatures for foods and “food products stored under leaky drain line.”
Putnam also states “I think we need to have a grading scale that is more reflective of the conditions in that store so that the consumers are aware and can make their shopping decisions accordingly.“
“I’m very aggressive about this, and I’m pushing them to come up with something very quickly,” Putnam promises. Given the swiftness of his response to the original report, that much is clear.
Meanwhile, four months have passed, and a new system is not yet available, leaving grocery consumers to wonder if the food they buy is safe for their families.
