HUNTINGTON -- Passing inspection is about to get a little harder for area restaurants, under a revised West Virginia regulation that goes into effect July 1.

Officials and residents say tightening the rule for food establishments was needed, though few expect it to hurt area restaurants.

Cabell County restaurant inspection scores

Under the revised state code, establishments that have more than three critical violations found during an inspection must close until those violations are corrected. The previous rule allowed for five before a restaurant was required to close.

Twenty-five Huntington area restaurants would have failed the new standard after inspections in 2007 under the new rule, according to records in the restaurant inspection database at herald-dispatch.com.

"Critical violations are those things that would lead quickly to a food illness," said Stan Mills, chief sanitarian for Cabell-Huntington Health Department.

Critical violations include improper food temperatures, poor hygiene, and having flies, rats or roaches on the premises.

Huntington resident Joe Cliff said he expects courteous service and a clean environment when he sits down at a restaurant. He thinks the revision is a good idea.

"They'll be more apt to keep the places clean," he said.

Bill Gregg said personal hygiene and employees' appearance are also important. A good first impression will encourage customers to return.

"You want the employee to have a clean, wholesome look," he said.

Mills said some critical violations may be able to be corrected right away, while others may take more time.

Mills said he believes the revised rule will have little impact locally.

"Most of our restaurants do, I think, an exceptional job here in Cabell County. There's truly not a restaurant here I would be afraid to eat in," he said.

The change aims to reduce having uncorrected critical violations left in place, said Linda Whaley, food program manager for the West Virginia Bureau for Public Health.

She said establishments will be more diligent under the new rule, paying closer attention to cleaning and cooking standards.

Inspectors also will work closer with facility managers and operators to see that violations are corrected before the inspector leaves, Whaley said.

Most restaurants correct their violations quickly, Mills said.

Stewart's Hot Dogs is happy to have the inspections, according to president John Mandt, Jr.

"As a matter of fact, I wish we had more health department sanitarians to go around and check the restaurants," he said.

He said foodborne illnesses can be easy to spread if people aren't paying attention, but Stewart's employees know what's expected of them.

"Our family is on our logo. That's my great-grandad on my sign. If we aren't doing what we need to do, then that's my family name and my reputation on the line," Mandt said.

Frostop Drive-In store manager Larry Turner said he also appreciates the health department inspections. While larger businesses sometimes hire their own health inspectors, Frostop probably couldn't afford that, he said.

He said inspectors are helpful and work with restaurants to make them their best.

"You're thankful to them if they catch something you miss because you don't want to harm someone," Turner said.

Mills said the health department has four sanitarians dedicated to food establishment inspections.

Code requires unscheduled inspections take place at least once each six months. Mills said most places are inspected quarterly.

The revised code also emphasizes the need for workers to understand food allergens and diseases that are transmissible through food.

The health department offers a variety of food safety and handlers' courses.

More information is available by calling the health department at 304-523-6483.

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Howie McCormick/The Herald-DIspatch

Stewart's Hot Dogs employees Angie Robertson, right, and Keri McCoy prepare an order for a customer in the kitchen of the 5th Avenue drive-in Thursday. Passing inspection is about to get a little harder for area restaurants, under a revised West Virginia regulation that goes into effect July 1.

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