MAP: Find Out Which Local Grocer is the Grossest

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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, including in the Five Towns, state data shows.

Patch has compiled 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 Nassau County Department of Health, grocers in town are inspected by this state agency.

For Five Towns Patch, we collected data on 84 markets in the Cedarhurst, Hewlett, Inwood, Lawrence and Woodmere area, ranging from major chain supermarkets to smaller meat or seafood shops, pharmacies and convenience stores.

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 the Five Towns Scored

A total of 14 stores throughout the three areas failed inspections in 2012. One of the stores -- Inwood’s Landmark Mini Market -- is now closed.

Of the 14 stores that failed in 2012, five stores failed more than once. Inwood’s Amani Deli Grocery, Cedarhurst’s Gourmet Cookies & Pastries, Inwood’s Eden Grocery & Meat Market and Zomick’s in Inwood all failed twice in 2012, while Brach’s in Lawrence failed three times.

Brach’s, located at 11 Lawrence Lane in Lawrence, failed three inspections in a row from from June to October of 2012. According to a spokesman for the department of agriculture and markets, four consecutive failures results in a proceeding to remove a company’s license.

The critical deficiencies found at Brach’s were related to the cleaning of equipment. The last failure was a result of a faucet failing “to reach all three basins of equipment wash sink.”

Brach’s passed its most recent inspection on Dec. 17, 2012.

Zomick’s, located at 85 Inip Drive in Inwood, has failed 10 of its last 17 inspections dating back to 2005.

While the location passed its most recent inspection on Feb. 23, 2013, a majority of the failures have been the results of a large pest problem.

The pest problem has included cockroaches, beetles, mice and birds. On Oct. 3, 2012, an inspection found “Thirteen, 50-pound bags of Iowa Corn Processors corn meal … infested with beetles.”

Eden Grocery also had a pest problem of its own. During an October 2012 inspection, cockroaches were found in the store. Also, “approximately 20 pounds of bulk cracked wheat was found to be infested with beetles and moths” and “approximately 15 pounds of a bulk nut and seed mix was found to be infested with moths.”

The products in question at Eden destroyed under a signed waiver during inspection.

As for the cleanest in the area, Shins Blue Ribbon Market -- located at 125 Spruce St. in Cedarhurst -- has not failed an inspection since 2004.

Trader Joe’s -- located at at 1280 W. Broadway in Hewlett -- has not failed an inspection since 2008 and only had six general deficiencies during its most recent inspection on Sept. 26, 2012.

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 Nassau County Health Department at (516) 742-6154.