Student Center inspection scores low

The Peoria City/County Health Department recently released health inspections from December, and the Michel Student Center scored poorly.

The inspection, which is based out of 100, revealed that the Student Center scored a 77. Points between one and five are subtracted from the total score for violations during the inspection, with the worst violations meriting five points.

The food court committed 12 separate violations, including two critical violations that weighed five points each. Peoria’s Health Department defines critical items as “violations that are more likely to contribute to food contamination, illness or food safety hazards.”

“We do not consider a score of 77 to approach our expectations for operation of this unit, or any others,” said Vice President of Business Affairs Gary Anna. “However, it was not a failing grade and operations were not disrupted.”

Anna said it is safe for students to eat at the Student Center.

The two major violations included an unplugged refrigerator in Provisions on Demand (P.O.D.), causing personal food to reach 70 degrees, and unlabeled spray bottles of cleaners, sanitizers and degreasers. Anna said those violations were immediately corrected.

Other violations include faulty plumbing, soiled food contact surfaces and walls, ceilings and attached equipment and mislabeled food containers. The violations extended to Moe’s, Chick-fil-A, P.O.D., Topio’s and the upstairs catering kitchen.

Anna said the Student Center has since received a better score; however, the Peoria Health Department website does not include the new score.

“Our dining facilities are inspected no less than three times a year and an inspection in mid-February in the Michel Center produced a score of 88,” he said. “Training and attention to safety and sanitation standards has been, and continues to be, a priority.”

The Student Center was the lowest-scoring location on Bradley’s campus, with no other location scoring less than a 91 (Holmes Hall). Shea Stadium, home to the soccer team, scored a perfect 100, while The Stacks in the Cullom-Davis Library scored a 98 and the Renaissance Coliseum scored a 97.

Additionally, the 77 is the lowest score the Student Center has scored in more than a year, where it scored an 80 in November 2012, an 88 in February 2013 and an 86 in May 2013.

Anna said he doesn’t recall ever seeing a low score at a Bradley facility like this, but the two critical violations at the Student Center were quickly corrected.

“Food sanitation, proper preparation and delivery of meals at all of our dining venues are expected,” Anna said. “It’s a core value and ongoing expectation for our operations.”