10 Health Violations the Health Inspector in “SpongeBob SquarePants” Would Never Overlook

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When it comes to restaurant health inspections, the goal is to ensure that all food service establishments follow safe and sanitary practices to protect public health. While some violations are minor and easily corrected, others can have serious consequences, from causing foodborne illnesses to shutting down businesses.

In the imaginary world of “SpongeBob SquarePants,” the health inspector is a fearsome figure who can make or break a restaurant’s reputation. However, even he might miss or forgive some of the less obvious health violations that occur in the cartoon universe, where fish talk, seaweed burgers are a thing, and kitchens are run by a sponge, a squid, and a crab.

Here are ten health violations that the health inspector in “SpongeBob SquarePants” would never overlook, if he were as strict and savvy as his real-life counterparts:

1. Cross-contamination: In the episode “The Krabby Kronicle,” Mr. Krabs uses his newspaper as a makeshift napkin to wipe his hands after handling money, then touches the Krusty Krab’s kitchen utensils without washing them. This can spread harmful bacteria and viruses from one surface to another, and from humans to food.

2. Hand hygiene: In the episode “Nasty Patty,” SpongeBob and Mr. Krabs try to dispose of a tainted burger by hiding it in a customer’s purse, but end up giving her food poisoning. They admit to the health inspector that they didn’t wash their hands before cooking, as they were too grossed out by the contaminated meat. This is a common cause of foodborne illness, as hands can harbor germs that contaminate food.

3. Pest control: In the episode “Wormy,” Squidward becomes paranoid after seeing a butterfly, whom he mistakes for a monster, and calls for an exterminator. However, the real threat is the worm that hatches from the butterfly’s cocoon and starts eating everything in sight, including the Krusty Krab’s supplies. Having pests like mice, roaches, or flies in a restaurant can contaminate food, damage equipment, and attract health violations.

4. Temperature control: In the episode “Squid Noir,” Squidward tries to impress a food critic by serving him a reheated Krabby Patty, but forgets to check its temperature. When the critic takes a bite, he immediately spits it out, exclaiming that it’s cold and soggy. This can ruin the texture, flavor, and safety of food, as pathogens can grow or survive in certain temperature ranges.

5. Food labeling: In the episode “Plankton’s Pet,” Plankton tries to sell chum as pet food by rebranding it and labeling it “gourmet” and “organic.” However, he forgets to include the ingredients, expiration date, and nutritional value on the packaging, which are required by law to protect consumers from fraud and harm.

6. Sanitation: In the episode “Greasy Buffoons,” SpongeBob and Patrick open a fast food stand that serves nothing but greasy patties, which become a hit with the customers. However, they neglect basic hygiene practices such as wearing gloves, using clean surfaces, or changing the cooking oil, which can lead to grease fires, burns, and infections.

7. Allergen control: In the episode “SpongeBob You’re Fired,” SpongeBob accidentally cooks a peanut onion sundae for a customer with a peanut allergy, causing her to have a severe reaction and rush to the hospital. This can happen when food service workers don’t know or don’t care about common allergens like nuts, shellfish, or gluten, and cross-contaminate them with other foods.

8. Food storage: In the episode “Selling Out,” the Krusty Krab is bought by a corporation that replaces all fresh ingredients with synthetic ones that don’t expire, spoil, or taste like anything. However, the new regime neglects to store the fake food properly, causing it to melt, explode, or mutate into dangerous creatures. This highlights the importance of storing food in clean, dry, cool, and safe places, and of not relying on preservatives or chemicals to fake freshness.

9. Cleanliness: In the episode “Face Freeze,” SpongeBob and Patrick get stuck with silly faces after holding them too long, and try to hide them by wearing fake noses. When they visit the Krusty Krab, they forget to take them off while preparing burgers, causing them to sneeze, spit, and drop them into the food. This can gross out customers, violate hygiene standards, and damage the reputation of a restaurant.

10. Food handling: In the episode “The Algae’s Always Greener,” Plankton swaps lives with Mr. Krabs by using a mind-swapping helmet, and tries to cook Krabby Patties himself. However, he has no experience or skill in handling food, and ends up creating bizarre and disgusting versions of the famous burgers. This shows that food handling is not just a matter of following a recipe or copying a technique, but of understanding the properties, flavors, and safety of different ingredients.

While these health violations may seem amusing or harmless in a cartoon world, they can have serious consequences in real life. By being aware of them, and by following the best practices in food safety and sanitation, restaurant owners, managers, and workers can protect themselves, their customers, and their business from harm.

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