by Donald Wood
Last updated: 10:45 AM ET, Thu May 16, 2024
Health inspectors from the United States Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention (CDC) gave a Margaritaville
at Sea ship a failing grade during a recent examination of the vessel.
According to Fox
News, the Margaritaville at Sea Paradise ship
was inspected by Vessel Sanitation Program (VSP) officials on May 1 and
received a grade of 83. The CDC incident report showed that the ship needed a
score of 86 to pass the test successfully.
CDC officials listed some of the issues, including six
people being permitted in whirlpools designed for only four, sanitation
concerns involving food and drink, and questions about cleaning practices
related to crew members handling food without washing their hands.
“The gloves worn by the crew member handling the ice making
components of the ice machines were stored with tools,” the CDC report said. “It
was unclear if the crew member washed his hands before putting on gloves. There
were glove boxes for food handlers on the bulkhead next to the ice machines
that could be used instead.”
Vessel Sanitation Program officials found the Margaritaville
at Sea Paradise ship committed some food safety violations, including
improperly stored drinks, soiled and poorly lit food preparation areas, and
several out-of-order freezers, refrigerators, and deep fryers.
Margaritaville at Sea issued a response
to Fox News about the failing grade:
“Following internal policies,
immediate corrective actions have been taken to address the issues identified
in the inspection. Many of these issues have already been resolved, and we will
be working with USPH [United States Public Health] for a re-inspection as soon
as possible. We expect this re-inspection will exceed USPH standards.”
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