White Plains' Whole Foods Failed 3 Health Inspections in 2012

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The White Plains Whole Foods on Bloomingdale Road—where passels of city residents flock to snap up sundries like organic produce and fresh meat—failed three health inspections in 2012, more than any other grocer or supermarket in the city, according to state data examined by Patch.

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Data culled from the state's Department of Agriculture and Markets, the bureau charged with inspecting retail food stores throughout the state, uncovered a bundle of health hazards at the sprawling market last year—some of which were grave enough to warrant a failing mark.

In a six-month span, the market racked up three "critical deficiencies," which gave way to the state administering three failing grades. Alongside the three critical finds were a bundle of "general deficiencies," or lesser sanitary hiccups.

The first of Whole Food's failures stemmed from a find in February of 2012—state inspectors discovered soiled and beat-up cutting boards. The kitchen's boards for dicing ready-to-eat vegetables were marred with "extensive deep knife scores, containing imbedded/dark matter."

The nearby cutting boards for meat and produce followed suit, with the heavily-notched surfaces packed with similar grime.

Health inspectors observed several general deficiencies during that same visit, like a dirty hand-wash station in the deli, and kitchen walls "soiled with hardened food splatter."

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The business' second failed inspection of 2012 came just a few months later, on May 10, when state inspectors found a repeat performance of dirty cutting boards. Other infractions included a messy seafood freezer, and unrefrigerated semi-soft cheese.

Michael Sinatra, a spokesman for Whole Foods markets in the Northeast, said the bustling White Plains store may sometimes present an issue when state inspectors drop in.

"In [this] case there was a cutting board that was a little bit overused," Sinatra said.

"When there is a deficiency, we immediately correct it," he added. "For us, there's nothing more critical than cleanliness and health."

Sinatra noted that when health inspectors stumble across a problem, the management is swift to speak with the store's staff about preventing it from reoccurring.

Whole Foods received its third critical deficiency—and consequent inspection failure—on August 15 of 2012, when state employees learned a chicken grinder and sausage tuber had not been cleaned properly, and contained a build-up of residue.

"The equipment properly [was] cleaned and sanitized during inspection," records state.

Sinatra said the gaffe was linked to Whole Foods' commitment to handling meat locally.

"What we're doing is grinding all the meat in-house," he said. "It's not being done off-site in a factory. So perhaps when it was checked, something was ground that morning."

Whole Foods passed its most recent inspection in November of 2012, and has totaled eight failures since 2005.

What readers are saying on Facebook

Tracey Bogart: "I expect a lot more from Whole Foods since I pay so much more to shop there!! Very disappointing..."

Robert Clarkson: "The place is dirty! If you choose to shop there with Three failed health inspections it is your own fault! You are supporting this mess!"

Linda Von Toussaint: "Grow your own only way to know what's truly in your food."