Audit says health inspections lacking in Florida hotels, restaurants
Florida's hotels and restaurants aren't being inspected for health and safety violations as often as they should be, a government audit found.
Consumers will face greater risk of being exposed to safety hazards and outbreaks of foodborne illnesses in restaurants unless the state hires 11 additional inspectors this year and updates equipment, a report to the Florida Legislature revealed this week.
The Division of Hotels and Restaurants conducted 55,561 fewer inspections than required by its own rules in the last fiscal year. The audit, conducted by the Legislature's Office of Program Policy Analysis and Government Accountability, blamed staffing cuts, including the elimination of 21 inspectors in 2003.
"That's totally, totally unacceptable," said Rep. Rene Garcia, R-Miami, who sits on the House Tourism Committee. "If we can't guarantee that the visitors to this state are staying in a safe, healthy environment, that's a major concern."
But the director of the Division of Hotels and Restaurants said the statistics don't portray an accurate picture.
"The picture is not nearly as bleak as the statistics may portray," Geoff Luebkemann said. "They virtually all get one inspection a year."
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Source - USATODAY
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