Business & Tech

MAP: Find Out Which Three Village Grocery Store is the Grossest

Patch has pulled together information on grocery store inspections across New York state to create our exclusive interactive map.

While mold, insects, rats and dust may sound like we're listing plagues, these are actually common violations found in supermarkets and grocery stores across Long Island, though to a lesser extent in Three Village, state data show.

Patch has pulled together information on grocery store inspections across New York state to create our exclusive interactive map, culled from public data supplied by the state's Department of Agriculture and Markets. Unlike restaurants, which are inspected by the Suffolk County Department of Health, grocers in town are inspected by this state agency.

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RELATED: 5 Things You Should Know About Grocery Inspections

For Three Village Patch, we collected data on 26 markets in the Stony Brook, Setauket and East Setauket area, ranging from major chain supermarkets to smaller meat or seafood shops, pharmacies and convenience stores. And while sushi restaurants are inspected by the county, sushi stands located in grocery stores are inspected by the state.

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In the data above you find results of a store's latest food safety inspection as of Jan. 30, and the location’s past performance. Violations are either listed as "general deficiencies," which inspectors say did not present a heath risk, and "critical deficiencies" that pose a real hazard to customers. One critical violation and the market fails inspection.

How Three Village Scored

Turns out, there was only one area market to fail inspection in 2012, Pantaleaons Farm Stand on Route 25A in Setauket. The market failed for one critical deficiency: the hand washing sink in the hot dog/corn roaster service area lacked hot water, the inspector said.

As for general deficiencies, Pantaleons had 15, mostly related to cleanliness and signage. The farm stand, which as an open market has far more access to the elements than your average supermarket, was also cited for one live fly.

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King Kullen-owned Wild By Nature had the most general violations in town with 19, citing dust, soiled surfaces, lack of thermometers in certain areas and an improperly hung strip of fly paper, none of which posed a health hazard to customers, inspectors said in the report.

King Kullen Vice President of Store Operations Anthony Femminella said the Long Island-based chain is proud of its inspection history, and told Patch that the deficiencies are addressed within days of the inspections.

"We go to great lengths to safeguard the well being of our customers and employees and take that responsibility very seriously," he said.

Wild by Nature, however, hasn't had an inspection since December 2011.

Nearby Waldbaums had 17 general deficiencies, also related to dust, thermometers and a single live fly, though the supermarket also hasn't seen inspectors since 2011. Setauket Quality Meats also had 17 of these violations, including a citation for sawdust in the store.

As for the cleanest stores in the area, Lake Grove's Whole Foods had only one general violation for mold on a packaged wedge of Asiago cheese. Trader Joe's and Target both had five general deficiencies.

According to the state, there were 110 inspectors on the state’s payroll in 2012 responsible for about 31,000 retail food stores and around 6,200 food warehouses, wineries and other processors. Delis are included in the department’s inspections if 50 percent or less of their business is selling ready-to-eat food.

"They are our eyes and ears behind the scenes," said Robert Gravani, a professor at Cornell University who trains state inspectors.

Inspectors show up unannounced, and can spend as little as hour or more than a day inspecting a store, said Stephen Stich, Director of Food Safety and Inspection at the department.

The Inspection System

In 29 percent of the 30,372 retail food store inspections conducted statewide in 2012, the inspector found one or more problems that could make customers sick, Patch’s analysis of public records shows.

If an inspector finds a serious hazard to food safety, the store fails the inspection. Our analysis found more than 5,300 stores across the state failed an inspection last year, and more than 1,100 stores failed more than once. The department can fine the store up to $600 for the first critical deficiency, and double that amount for any more critical problems.

The department does more than just hand out fines. Sometimes, inspectors supervise supermarket employees as they correct violations on the spot, such as sanitizing dirty deli slicers, Stich said. Inspectors also hold in-store trainings to educate employees on the importance of food safety.

"These companies want to do things right," Gravani said. "Sometimes they fall down. That’s why you have a regulatory system."

Shoppers should call state inspectors with complaints about their local supermarket, such as spoiled food, Stich said.

You can reach the Long Island and NYC regional office, located in Brooklyn, at 718-722-2876.

But if you think food from the supermarket made you sick, contact your local health department, Stich said.

You can reach the Suffolk County Health Department at 631-854-0000.

Reading Patch on a phone or tablet? Use our mobile map on the go, or visit Patch from a computer to view the full map.


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