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Inspecting Food Inspection

London’s new Food Inspection Disclosure Site is a noble attempt at transparency. However, while its aim may be to help Londoners dine safely, the user-unfriendly format, along with several oversights, have resulted in a database that risks spreading misinformation and rumours.

Straight from the get-go, the website warns of its own inaccuracy. A disclaimer on the home page tells visitors: “The Middlesex-London Health Unit cannot guarantee that all information is accurate, complete or current at all times.”

Note: it’s kind of pointless to disclose information that isn’t true.

Most likely, the average person won’t bother to read the disclaimer before clicking “I Agree,” but if anyone does happen to skim through the warning they will hopefully see the website for what it is — a public pacifier.

People are fond of buzzwords like “transparency” and “full disclosure” and MLHU knows it. By posting everything from health and food regulation documents to a searchable listing of restaurants and their infractions, MLHU can turn to Londoners and say: “Look at us — our info is on the Internet. You can trust us.”

But can we?

MLHU’s new site is full of flaws; it lacks accurate information and has a poorly organized, jargon-filled interface.

Restaurants are rated only by their “critical” and “non-critical” infractions — vague terms that can mean everything from a rat infestation to a few flies in a kitchen.

London should take the lead from Toronto’s DineSafe program, which uses green, yellow and red symbols to represent which eateries have passed inspection, have passed on a condition, or have been closed down. Rather than bogging down users with excessive (and possibly incorrect) information, Toronto’s easy-to-use system provides an overview of all eateries and a quick way to find which street meat stations to avoid if you’re not in the mood for food poisoning.

However, even if it had a user-friendly format and simplified terminology, the success of the site would remain questionable. After all, the public’s obsession with the database is destined to be short-lived. For a couple weeks, Facebook statuses and media outlets will tout lists of London’s restaurants-to-be-avoided — until everyone realizes their own kitchens would be closed down by the health unit faster than you can say salmonella.

Soon enough, students will be back at their favourite restaurants, scarfing down fare without hesitation or worry.

We can only hope the idea of infractions being made public will urge restaurants to pay closer attention to maintenance, sanitation and staff training.

But as far as the Gazette is concerned — anything on the MLHU site should be taken with a grain of salt.

Check out London’s Food Inspection Disclosure Site by visiting www.healthunit.com and clicking on the link.

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