Agriculture Department Warns Restaurants of Potential Scam

Local restaurants and those across Pennsylvania should be on guard against a potential scam in which an unidentified caller claims to be a health inspector and asks for business information, acting Agriculture Secretary George Greig.

In a release, Greig said the caller is not a licensed agent of the state or any county. He also reminded restaurants that inspections by the state Department of Agriculture’s food sanitarians are always unannounced. In an actual inspection, sanitarians will identify themselves and show proper identification, including a commonwealth employee photo identification card and food sanitarian badge.

If a restaurant is contacted by someone claiming to be a health inspector who seems suspicious, restaurant staff should contact local law enforcement.

The department has received several reports of calls received by restaurants in Beaver and Washington counties.

Earlier this year, calls were also received by restaurants in Bucks, Chester, Cumberland, Montgomery, Venango and York counties.

For more information about food safety, visit www.eatsafePA.com.