We have data on Rock County restaurant inspections from last year.
A team from the county health department performed more than 1,100 inspections in 2024 and found more than 2,300 violations.
Environmental health supervisor Matt Wesson says those numbers are typical for a year.
The two most common violations were for general cleanliness and for foods not being held at the proper temperature. Both those violations were cited in more than 10% of inspections.
Wesson says the temperature violation is known as a priority violation in the state food code, which is the most pressing type because they’re the most likely to lead directly to injury or foodborne illness.
Most of the other top 10 violations in Rock County last year were more minor ones, such as unclean non-food surfaces, improperly maintained equipment or plumbing, and a lack of a certified food manager.
Wesson says the consequences for violations depend on the type. Inspectors might have restaurant owners address priority violations before the inspector leaves or give them a few days to do so and return. If priority violations persist, Wesson says the county has the authority to revoke licenses.
He says county inspectors also go out for field investigations if they receive complaints from the public about establishments violating the food code. Wesson encourages people to file such complaints through a form on the county’s website.
