Push to hire more food inspectors ASAP

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) - There's a new push to hire more state food inspectors, following a recent salmonella scare which has sickened many and could possibly be linked to one death.

As of Wednesday afternoon, a total of 43 people were affected, 22 of those were hospitalized and 22 are lab confirmed salmonella.

• Updated list of recalled food items

Sen. John Tassoni is behind the efforts to hire more food inspectors and he's urging all parties involved to act swiftly.

“The safety of every person who visits a restaurant or other food establishment in Rhode Island is at stake,” said Senator Tassoni. “It is vital that the quality of these establishments is maintained and the Department of Health’s inspection program plays a major role in that regard.

There are seven food inspectors responsible for inspecting 8,000 food establishment across the Ocean State - yet being short staff only allows them to inspect half that number.

The U.S. Food & Drug Administration guidelines recommend that 21,000 inspections should be done each year in RI.

“It would be devastating if the lack of inspectors and too few inspections leads to violations that cause diners to become ill and if word were to get out that the quality of Rhode Island’s restaurants has gone downhill,” he said.