Dirty Dining hits the Arizona State Fair; what do health inspectors look for?

PHOENIX (AZFamily)— The Arizona State Fair brings fun and, of course, food. Arizona’s Family took Dirty Dining on the road to check out the food vendors at the state fair.

Our crews met with environmental health specialist Ty Cobb from Maricopa County Department of Public Health as he inspected various vendors at the fairgrounds.

We stopped by Enzo’s Pizzeria to see what the county looks for during inspections.

“Food-borne illness can happen, and it can happen in the least likely places,” said Cobb.

First things first: hand washing. Cobb checked the sink to see if anything was blocking it from access, and then he was off to check the food temperatures in the fridge.

He also checked how sanitary everything was in general. Cobb then checked the food, which was ready to serve.

Arizona’s Family noticed that Cobb also cleaned his own equipment after every use. After a couple of minutes, the inspection was done.

“They did really well; I didn’t find any violations they were really clean and all their temperatures were good,” he explained.

Cobb said he’s been inspecting food at the fair for years, and for the most part, everyone is in compliance.

“A lot of times, it’s the same people, and we’ve developed a rapport. They know what to expect from me and I know what to expect from them,” he said.

He said it’s usually a quick fix if he finds something.

“One of the most frequent violations would be a blocked hand sink, and it happens when various staff come in and out,” he explained.

Cobb found no significant violations while our crews were with him on Thursday.

The fair is open Thursdays through Sundays until Oct. 27.

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