This week, the Department Of Health closed down the LBJ Hospital Cafeteria due to health violations.
According to DOH”s environmental health inspector Aileen Solaita, inspectors found evidence of rats such as claw marks and droppings in areas where food is prepared.
While the cafeteria itself is enclosed from the outside by glass, the kitchen is not.
The DOH official said that rats had traversed beyond the protective rat wiring enclosing the kitchen. The inspection report stated that the LBJ Kitchen was unsafe, unhygienic and unsanitary due to exposure to the elements, making patients vulnerable to food borne illnesses.
It was DOH’S recommendation that LBJ either build a new cafeteria or enclose the kitchen the same way the dining room is enclosed. This helps ensure a sanitary environment for the preparation of patients’ food.
