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Health China Chef fined $200 for food-storage violations

Wareham Courier - 6/15/2017

WAREHAM - The Board of Health voted unanimously last Wednesday to fine the China Chef restaurant $200 - $100 per violation of regulations governing how food is stored at the recommendation of Health Agent Robert Ethier.

Another such violation could cost the restaurant its license, as well, according to the board's vote.

Ethier said the town health department was called in by the Fire Dept. on the morning of May 30. Firefighters had been investigating a gas odor and possible leak at the Depot Street address.

Firefighters found that food had been left out overnight on restaurant counters, including cooked and raw pork and chicken and spareribs, as well as five bowls of white cooked rice.

Ethier said it was the second recent such offense, which surprised him. The health personnel had made it very clear the first time that the violation was serious.

"I've never seen that violation more than once," he said because restaurants are thoroughly warned to never let it happen again.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimate that 48 million people fall ill annually because of tainted food, 128,000 are hospitalized and 3,000 die, he said.

The co-owner said the restaurant was responsible for the mistake and would work to rectify problems, and apologized. She said the two members of the staff with serve-safe certificates certifying they are versed in how to properly handle food, one of them who is herself, were not working the holiday the day before and the restaurant was very busy.

She declined to give her name to reporters after the meeting. The restaurant was also represented by Nathaniel Darling, who said it would help if the two cooks, the day cook and the night cook, were serve-safe certified, so that the restaurant would not be caught short again.