Good Job! You’re Fired. Food Safety: The Industry You Can Lose Your Job by Doing It Too Well | Episode 53

Don't Eat Poop! A Food Safety Podcast

In this episode of Don’t Eat Poop!, our favorite food safety specialists Francine L. Shaw and Matt Regusci come together to talk about something that hit a little too close to home.

In Lewiston, ME, a veteran restaurant inspector and the long-time and respected Code Enforcement Director are being ostracized and possibly fired for doing their job and asking that a popular local restaurant close their doors while they remediate a cockroach infestation.

During her journey as a health inspector herself, Francine faced a very similar situation and she shares what that experience was like, including being threatened with a gun and taken in front of the City Council for a grilling.

Tune in to hear this and other real-life stories from Francine’s and Matt’s careers as they navigate illegal and unethical demands from clients (and sometimes society) and stay true to what they believe in. They also hone in on the challenges inspectors and auditors face and talk about some solutions.

In this episode:

💩 [02:27] The town that is voting to end city restaurant inspections

💩 [04:41] Francine’s very own story of backlash from the public for doing her job

💩 [08:05] The challenges faced by health inspectors

💩 [11:05] The importance of proper documentation and legal responsibility

💩 [13:31] The consequences of bad inspectors and auditors for the industry

💩 [19:10] Navigating illegal and unethical requests from clients

💩 [22:43] The untold hero of Lewiston’s restaurant inspection drama

💩 [24:55] What happens when you step on a double stack of 5-gallon storage buckets

💩 [29:17] What we can do better with food safety culture in fast food restaurants

Disclaimer: Episode title and content do not constitute legal or health advice.

Resources from this episode

Connect with Jonathan Needham.

You can read more about other “too-out-there-to-actually-be-true” real stories from Francine’s remarkable thirty-plus-year career as a foodservice professional in her book ‘Who Watches the Kitchen?’ on Amazon!

Check out Francine’s post about the story and look to the comments for the link with more material on the case from supporting documentation to email communication.

Go to Dr. Darin Detwiler, LP.D.’s post for the video of a guy trying to get something at the top of the shelf of a restaurant cooler by stepping on buckets that he tagged Matt on.

Noteworthy quotes from this episode

“Occasionally, we had a big company that would just be like, ‘No, we pay you for this and you need to be able to change it if we want to.’ No! That's not how this works. That was definitely not in the agreement.” – Matthew Regusci

“Health inspectors need to be able to do their job. Don't hire people for any position anywhere and not let them do their job. And they're there for a good reason and that's to protect the public's health.” – Francine L Shaw

We hope you enjoy this episode!

If you're passionate about maintaining the highest standards in food safety, this podcast is for you. Tune in to the "Don't Eat Poop" podcast for the latest food recalls, engaging conversations around food safety awareness, expert advice, food systems, news from the food supply chain, and actionable tips for responsible food safety practices. And of course, some food safety humor. Develop the knowledge and skills you need to protect yourself and others from foodborne illnesses.

Connect with Francine, Matt, and the "Don't Eat Poop!" show on LinkedIn!

Share your thoughts and feedback on the show and feel free to offer any topics you would like to hear discussed.

Check out Francine's book Who Watches the Kitchen? on Amazon!

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Produced by Ideablossoms