You can now view Lake County restaurants report cards online and decide if you’re really going to eat there. Props to Lake County Health Department for getting this information and making it available. With the search feature you can also find restaurants by cuisine type, it your looking to find a new place!

Restaurant report cards available online

October 15, 2009

By JIM NEWTON jnewton@scn1.com

Lake County diners can now check up on the health records of their favorite restaurants on the Lake County Health Department Web site.

The site includes complete inspection reports for food facilities including restaurants, grocery stores and convenience stores. Information on the inspection process, a guide to understanding reports and a searchable database of reports can also be found at www.lakecountyil.gov/Health/want/Inspections.htm .

“This Web page helps residents learn more about food safety and the inspection process,” said the Health Department Executive Director Irene Pierce.

She said the inspection process follows a pass/fail scoring method based on county ordinance guidelines.

“Specifically, a food service facility fails when the potential for a foodborne illness exists due to specific problems, such as repeated violations for food temperature control,” Pierce said.

The site includes inspection and enforcement information beginning with inspection activity as of July 1 of this year. For information prior to that date, residents will be asked to complete a Freedom of Information Act form, which can be accessed at www.lakecountyil.gov/health/EHS.htm .

In addition to reviewing recent inspections, residents can use search fields to check inspections for specific reataurants or for restaurants specializing in a certain type of cuisine.

The Health Department’s Food Protection Program is responsible for permitting, regulating and inspecting over 3,000 food service facilities operating in Lake County.

The ultimate goal of the program is to reduce the occurrence of foodborne illness and to promote safe food practices within the community by surveying food operation procedures and educating food handlers and the public on food safety, Pierce said.

Residents with questions or concerns regarding food safety may contact the Food Program Coordinator’s office at (847) 377-7780.

The Lake County News-Sun will resume its practice of publishing failed restaurant inspections later this month.