Ackerman Student Union Jamba Juice temporarily receives “˜B’ health rating
Ackerman Union’s Jamba Juice received a “˜B’ health rating last week from the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health. The rating returned to an “˜A’ Monday.
By Thomas Standifer
March 4, 2010 10:37 p.m.
The Ackerman Student Union Jamba Juice received a “˜B’ rating in a random inspection last week by the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health’s Environmental Health office.
The inspection was conducted on Feb. 24, and by this Monday, March 1, the grade had been changed back to an “˜A’.
The office allows businesses that are unhappy with results of a report to request a follow-up visit, which takes place randomly within the following 10 days and costs $243. This request can only be filed once a year.
The first report indicated the presence of fruit flies near the juice preparation area and under the dishwashing sink, according to Jamba Juice general manager Irvando DeOliveira.
In addition, eroded tile grout caused deep rivets in the floor that collected water and food debris. An oatmeal cooker was being used in the back office area, and counters and equipment were dirty with food debris, DeOliveira added.
The first visit yielded a rating of 84, and the follow-up visit, a 95, DeOliveira said.
DeOliveira said nearly all of the problems on the first health report were fixed before the Monday reinspection except for the floor grout; he added that the floor renovations would take place within a week.
“(The health inspector) came in here and it was the wrong day, so we asked her to come back another day and she did,” DeOliveira said.
He said the county would be visiting the facility again within the next 30 to 60 days, and if the results are not positive, he could be fired.
DeOliveira pointed to a resume of more than 10 years of restaurant management experience and said he has never received a “˜B’ in an inspection before.
Many of the restaurants in the student union are owned and operated by outside companies, and there is no official language in their lease agreements about county health ratings, said Cindy Bolton, the ASUCLA food service director.
Third-year psychology student Dmitry Shulga said the restaurant should have been clean in the first place, adding that he has concerns about the county’s method of re-evaluation.
“I don’t think I’m going to Jamba Juice anymore,” Shulga said. “Restaurants should not have that safety mat; they should be held accountable for their actions.”
Other students said they were less worried about the issue.
“If it was a “˜D’ I probably wouldn’t care,” said Lisa Ow, a third-year philosophy student. “As long as you aren’t putting crap in my drink, I’m OK.”
