San Francisco Restaurant Health Inspectors

By Charles Tolleson

According to the San Francisco Visitors Bureau there were about 3500 restaurants in San Francisco in July of 2009. The number changes daily. http://www.sfcvb.org/media/downloads/travel_media/sf_facts.pdf
On November 8, 2010 there was a news story that said, “San Francisco health officials say restaurant inspections are lagging because of a lack of staff. The San Francisco Health Department has 19 food inspectors instead of the 23 it is supposed to. Health officials tell the San Francisco Examiner that retirements and disciplinary problems have whittled down the staff. The shortage means thousands of restaurants may only be getting one inspection a year, and eateries with problems may not be receiving follow-up visits. All restaurants and food preparation facilities are supposed to be inspected twice a year, with those where significant problems have been identified getting a third visit.”

With 19 inspectors to inspect 3500 restaurants twice each year means each inspector will have to make 368 inspections per year, or 31 per month, or 8 per week, or 1.53 per day.

It seems like the health department has too many inspectors and should reduce their staff further! How difficult is it for one person to inspect less than two restaurants per day? If this was a private run service you can bet each employee would be more efficient, especially for the amount of money and perks the government employees are currently receiving. No wonder local, State, and Federal governments are running deficits.

"What is the best government? That which teaches us to govern ourselves." Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749 - 1832)