DeKALB – Huskies can rest assured that the fast food chains on campus are kept clean.
According to the DeKalb County Health Department, the May health inspections conducted on Einstein Bros. Bagels, Starbucks and Qdoba, indicate that are all in compliance with health code regulations.
Einstein’s is located in the basement of the Founders Memorial Library. Starbucks and Qdoba are located on the ground floor of the Holmes Student Center. All three establishments are visited frequently by NIU students, faculty and staff.
A routine inspection consists of checking if there are any foodborne illness risks, like inspecting all proteins to make sure they are fully cooked or checking that all foods are at the correct temperature for the specific food to ensure no bacteria growth. They also check that good retail practices are being maintained, like ensuring all employees are in good health, good hygiene is practiced and procedures against contamination are followed. They evaluate whether food is labeled and stored properly and that water is obtained from a clean and safe source.
When any of the areas inspected are not in compliance, the violation is written on the report. If there are repeat violations across multiple inspections, it gets marked as a risk factor. Einstein’s, Starbucks and Qdoba passed their most recent health inspections. Everything was in compliance and none of the establishments had risk factors on their reports.
Carissa Hunt-Gioe, a manager at the Qdoba in the Holmes Student Center, explained how Qdoba was able to get positive results on their inspections.
“We have daily, weekly and monthly inspections (of their own). We take pride in keeping our location clean, so we maintain it with an hourly cleaning routine…wiping, sanitizing, mopping, you know, switching out tools, sanitizer buckets, all kinds of stuff,” Hunt-Gioe said.
India Richardson, a junior human development and family sciences major, provided her thoughts of the on-campus restaurants.
“Sometimes the chicken, the meat, it’s like fat on that chicken. Overall the quality of the food is good and the facility is excessively clean. Starbucks is also good,” Richardson said.
