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Friday, October 12, 2012 12:03 AM Inspection finds issues at Worrell's Seafood Restaurant must correct issues identified by health inspectors By Rochelle Moore | Times Staff Writer The Wilson County Health Department issued a notice of intent to shut down Worrell’s Seafood after a recent inspection found several health violations. The owner, Mazin Saleh, has been given 30 days from the Sept. 20 inspection to fix the problems or the health department will have to suspend or revoke the restaurant’s permit until the problems are resolved, said Amanda Smith, environmental food and lodging health program specialist. "It’s not our job to shut a place down,” said Jim Martin, the Environmental Health supervisor at the Wilson County Health Department. "It’s our job to protect public health.” The inspection was prompted after the department received an anonymous complaint that the restaurant had roaches, problems with overall cleanliness and that there were some structural problems with the floor, Smith said. "There were roaches found in the establishment,” Smith said. "We did not find any roaches in any food items. We did see enough concern to get them out of there before they become an eminent problem.” They weren’t found inside any food or cooking equipment, which would have posed a greater threat and greater potential of closing the business without giving 30 days to get rid of the problem, Smith said. Saleh said that there weren’t any roaches inside the building but were instead outside near a dumpster. He said that the area was a mess because people dig into the trash at night and drop trash on the ground. He also said that he has had the dumpster replaced. Smith said the dumpster was messy, but no bugs or roaches were seen near the area. Health inspectors found roaches throughout the restaurant. "It needs to be addressed and if it’s not, it could become a health problem,” she said. Other problems found were the lack of cleaning on walls and floors and an area of the floor that needed to be repaired because of a soft spot. City of Wilson inspectors were asked by the health department to check the soft spot in the floor and the inspector made a recommendation that it be fixed, said Matt Shaw, communications coordinator for the city of Wilson. No other problems were cited by city inspectors. Smith said a nearby area of the floor was previously repaired but not with the correct flooring for a restaurant. The owner has been asked to fix the soft spot with the correct material. Saleh said he has fixed the floor and has remedied all the problems found by the health inspector. Saleh said the inspection was prompted by a report from a disgruntled employee. Health department workers said the anonymous caller didn’t sound like a former employee. "It ain’t going to be closed,” Saleh said. "There was water on the floor. It was a soft spot and we fixed it. We’re doing the best we can. We’re trying to fix everything.” Saleh became the owner of Worrell’s Seafood in May 2011 and regular health inspections have led to the business receiving a health inspection rating of 95 in April, the last time the rating was given, Smith said. The business improved its score to 97 after attendance in food safety class. In December 2011, the restaurant received a raw score of 97 and in February 2011, before Saleh became the owner, the raw score was 95 but increased to 97 after attendance in a food safety class. The April inspection at Worrell’s Seafood did not involve an inspector finding any roaches or other sanitary concerns, Smith said. The health department’s intent notice to suspend or revoke the restaurant permit stated that the restaurant’s equipment, floors and walls need to be in compliance with state health standards, effective methods of pest control need to be used and areas where bugs harbor need to be eliminated. Also, outdoor areas need to be maintained in a sanitary manner. Health department officials said they didn’t want the inspection or findings to appear as though Worrell’s Seafood was being singled out because the health requirements are the same for all restaurants. The health department’s findings during an inspection can lead to requirements that a business owner reach compliance. "These are the same regulations for any restaurant,” Smith said. "What was found (at Worrell’s) could be anywhere.” Smith estimates that five notices of intent have been sent to restaurants this year and restaurant owners usually fix the problems within the 30-day timeframe. "Most of them get into compliance,” Smith said. The health department has been involved in closing restaurants but that usually happens following an accident or emergency, Smith said. The owner of Las Palmas on Goldsboro Street, for example, voluntarily closed the restaurant in 2011 after a kitchen fire. The business didn’t reopen until the problem was fixed. The N.C. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Bureau opened an inspection of Worrell’s Seafood on June 7 and closed the inspection on July 9, said Neal O’Briant, public information officer, with the N.C. Department of Labor. The investigator did not find any violations of the minimum wage, wage payment or youth employment laws but found that the employer failed to pay overtime to two employees that totaled $101. Saleh paid the employees. The labor department also cited the employer for recordkeeping violations of the Wage and Hour Act and the employer paid a civil money penalty in the amount of $1,000, O’Briant said. rochelle@wilsontimes.com | 265-7818 |
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Really said...
Worrells is a Landmark, one of those (you know the kind where you don't mention the elephant in the room). It has had great fish, and we have just plain ignored the rest....
Saturday, October 13, 2012 at 11:26 PM
To, To Really said...Worrells is a Landmark, one of those (you know the kind where you don't mention the elephant in the room). It has had great fish, and we have just plain ignored the rest....
Saturday, October 13, 2012 at 11:26 PM
Its good to know there are perfict people like you living in Wilson. Now go shine your halo!!!
Friday, October 12, 2012 at 1:04 PM
If you knew this had been going on - why didn't you report it. You are just as bad because you knew it and didn't report it. Don't go patting yourself on the back because you knew. you should be more ashamed of yourself for not reporting it.
Friday, October 12, 2012 at 8:35 AM
I have worked in the food service industry for over 30 years. Rumors about the roaches at Worrell's Seafood have been around for a long long time. Unfortunately, the new owner was not aware of what he was getting. Roaches are hard to get rid of and I hope the new owner can get rid of them. I always wondered why the Health Department never shut down the old owners as this problem started with them.
Friday, October 12, 2012 at 7:23 AM
I can't believe you are just finding this! Worrells has always been a disgusting restaurant. If they didn't find anything before this they were blind!
Friday, October 12, 2012 at 6:44 AM
