Health violations in dining halls decrease

Health violations at NYU's dining halls dropped to 2008 levels after a sharp increase in the beginning of 2009, according to a WSN analysis of New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene's restaurant inspections.

In March 2009, examinations at the university's dining halls received an average score of 19. During the most recent round of inspections, the average number of violation points for the 15 dining locations listed was 11, the same number of points as in 2008. While 28 points is considered a failing grade, 14 points is the New York City average.

Hayden Dining Hall and NYU Law School's Vanderbilt Hall both had the highest score — 26 violation points, two shy of failing. Infractions at Vanderbilt Hall increased from its last inspection in December 2008 when it scored 14 points. In addition to Hayden and Vanderbilt Hall, two other dining halls scored 20 violation points or more — Rubin Dining Hall and the Central Park Café, the School of Continuing and Professional Studies Midtown location.

NYU Director of Dining Facilities Owen Moore said the issues raised by the inspection reports are being addressed. One of the most common issues in the report was that the facility was not "vermin-proof," with "evidence of live mice in facility's food." According to Moore, NYU has been working with pest control experts.

"In New York, there's always going to be that problem — because of the fact that it is a several hundred year old city," Moore said. "You're never going to eliminate, only control."

Dining services employees said they try to make sure everything is kept clean in the dining halls.

"We stay on top of things over here when it comes to that, anything falls on the floor they're quick to wash it," said an employee, speaking on the condition of anonymity. Dining services employees are not allowed to speak to the media.

The NYU Law School cafe on West Third Street received the best score, with no violation points, while University Hall scored the second lowest, with two points. Seven dining halls scored below 10 violation points. Starbucks at Faye's on the Square, one of the most heavily trafficked NYU facilities, received six violation points.

Stern freshman Janshaaz Khan recently picked a green piece of roast beef out of his Quizno's sandwich. Still, he said he eats at Upstein — which scored 14 violation points — every day.

"It makes me feel vulnerable to disease," Khan said. "This was the first time, though."

In order to improve inspection results, Moore said, dining services works with a local food sanitation group as well as a nationally recognized group. Both organizations conduct inspections of the dining halls similar to those done by the Department of Health.

"We really develop a report on how that manager can really maintain that location as best as possible," Moore said.

Andrea Townsend, a public relations representative from ASI Food Consultants, a food sanitation group, stressed the importance of attention to detail in maintaining clean facilities.

"If food is sealed and packaged, if temperatures are what they're supposed to be: It's just a matter of having a really good system and program in place," Townsend said.

Restaurants near NYU have also been cited with violations. Atomic Wing at 184 First Ave. was given 37 violation points, Fedora Restaurant at 239 W. Fourth St. had 63 points, and Chomp at 250 E. 14th St. had 60 points.

Lily Altavena is deputy enterprise editor.