The Michigan Auditor General says the state needs to improve oversight of lead inspections stemming from the Flint water crisis.
The Genesee County Health Department couldn’t provide supporting documentation for 35 percent of the randomly selected food and water lead inspections. This was discovered by the state Auditor General. The health department performed inspections at restaurants and other food service venues that use the City of Flint water system.
Jennifer Holton is with the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development. It’s the state department in charge of the inspections.
“The work got done, but the paperwork, documentation, should have been better.”
“What we’ve been working on is, number one, is making sure that the water and safety inspections are taking place. Making sure that they’re meeting the requirements that are set forth to make sure every food safety component is addressed.”
“Even before the audit came out, we’ve already implemented corrective actions to make sure that we’re doing everything that we can to make sure that the work’s not only getting done in Genesee County but is also being properly documented.”
The Genesee County Health Department carries out the food and water inspections. The Department of Agriculture agreed to increase inspections and oversight of the health department to make sure safety standards are met and properly documented.