Health department releases food scores

The Bureau County Health Department makes routine and unannounced visits each month to various food service establishments in Bureau and Putnam counties to inspect the operations.

Health inspectors use an identical scorecard at each facility, where they check for health code compliance in 45 areas. Each area carries a rating from one to five, with five being the most critical. Inspectors check the entire operations of the facility in 14 different categories, such as food protection, personnel, and garbage and refuse disposal.

Beginning with 100 points, the health inspector deducts one to five points for every violation. A passing food inspection score is 65 or above.

At 65, the Bureau County ordinance allows the health department to close an establishment, but a score doesn’t have to be that low for the department to close them. Each county has a different ordinance at this time.

Closure depends on the number of critical and non-critical violations and the type of violations. Certain combinations can create a domino effect for food borne outbreaks.

All inspection reports are a matter of public record and can be seen at the Bureau County Health Department office in Princeton.

Bureau County food service evaluations

Cherry: Bruno’s 85; J.T.’s Bar and Grill, 96.

DePue: Larios Grocery 98.

Ladd: Joe’s Pizza 95, Softails Inc. 93, Torri’s Ice Cream Parlor 95, Ladd Moose Lodge 1528 99.

Mendota: Mendota Golf Club 91.

Mineral: The Wagon Wheel 93.

Princeton: KFC 88, Bureau County Jail 94, Hunters Ridge Golf Course 89, Wyaton Hills Golf Course 99, Beetz Me 99, Days Inn 92, Princeton Inn 95, Princeton Youth Baseball 96, Princeton Youth Baseball & Softball 100.

Sheffield: Hidden Lake 94.

Spring Valley: Spring Valley Jimmy John’s 98, Spring Valley Mini Market 92, Valley News 98, Spring Creek Golf Course 98, Spring Valley Tastee Freeze 99, Subway 99.

Tiskilwa: Menno Haven Camp & Retreat Center 98, Indian Hills Golf Course 97, Convenient Valley 98.

Walnut: Konz Restaurant & Lounge 93, The Walnut Cafe & Bar 82, Walnut Manor Nursing Home 99, DeWaele’s Dairy Dream 96.

Wyanet: Main Street BBQ 97.

Putnam County food service evaluations

Granville: P.C. Foods Inc. - F.S. 94, P.C. Foods Inc. - Retail 98, The Corner Store 95.