Runner cafe receives a 'B' grade

By Hillary Haenes
Features Editor

When you walk through the doors of CSUB's Runner Café and are greeted with a not so appealing sign that marks a large, blue letter B, you may think twice about eating your next meal here, but don't. For those of you who have had a difficult time locating the rating sign, it is posted in a new location since the Runner Café received their B-rating since October.
The new rating sign is now positioned on the wall and is hidden behind a welcome sign near the cash registers, which is where the inspectors placed the new sign. There is no need to panic if you do chow down on the convenient and tasty food at the café, the grade is due to only minor violations.
"The critical element that caused our score to lower to a B from an A were towels we use to sanitize/clean work surfaces [that] were left on work surfaces during the preparation process," said Food Service Director and General Manager of Campus Services, Bob McMicken.
According to McMicken, the explanation for this is that the workers were using the towels and failed to return them to the sanitizing solution bucket immediately after using them. This observation was cited in two areas and caused two deductions from their score. However, the situation was corrected right away, but the points were still deducted.
"If the sign was posted on the door, I would walk over to the pub, but since it wasn't, here I am," said senior Gabriela Luna.
On the Kern County Environmental Health Services website, the inspection report shows the rating history of the Runner Café and that on October 18, 2007, the café had a grade of an A (99.5 percent), but on October 30, 2008, the café's current grade was dropped to a B (80 percent). The inspection details explain the deductions of the most recent inspection, which include four non-critical violations, one minor violation and three major violations.
The non-critical violations consist of individual containers of salad dressing that were provided with no label displayed in the cooler, the ceiling was not clean in the walk-in cooler, one prep sink was not in good working order and the exhaust hoods were lacking filters. The minor violation was the women's restroom was lacking hot water. The three major violations that deduced the Runner Café's grade to a B were: the moist wiping towels were improperly stored on the prep counter, and another time the moist wiping towels were not properly stored in the sanitizing solution between use, and finally, detergent was not provided with a label that was being stored on the prep counter.
"Since I am a nursing student, I think sanitation and hand washing is a priority for the safety of our campus," said senior Ona Sibecas.
McMicken is also the manager to the Wiley Pub in the Student Union and also to the Jazzman Café that both have A-ratings. McMicken has scheduled another re-inspection for February and remains hopeful that the Runner Café grade will gain another grade of an A like his other food locations around campus. Maybe this next inspection will allow a change of location for the rating sign so that students will be able to clearly view the café's grade before entering.
"I am confident that our score will reflect the "A" score operation we have maintained since our inspection," said McMicken.