Uncle Giuseppe's Hopes to Clean Up its Aisles

After years of failing state health inspections, the Uncle Giuseppe's supermarket said it is taking steps to clean up its act.

According to spokesman Juda Engelmayer, the company is already looking to hire an in-house safety inspector who would help catch critical health issues before state inspectors do.

"The goal is to hire an experienced consultant who can work with all stores to make sure all departments are in compliance with the Department of Agriculture’s requirements," he said in an email, adding that interviews started last week.

While Engelmayer said the chain already had an internal quality control worker, the company is now making sure that person adds routine cleanliness and safety inspections to their job responsibilities.

The company is also working on a broad remediation plan, that Englemayer said would be shared with Patch when it is completed.

In March, a Patch probe of state health inspection records for grocery stores across Long Island found a pattern of violations at Uncle Giuseppe's Port Jefferson store, and well as most others in the chain.

In Smithtown, the market has failed eight inspections from the state's Department of Agriculture and Markets since 2005, and several inspections were prompted by complaints by shoppers that the food made them sick. In its most recent visit, inspectors destroyed nearly five pounds of canolis and other cream-filled pastries deemed possibly hazardous to consumers.

The issues didn't escape Port Jefferson, where the store in that town failed three out of the four inspections it has had since opening in 2010.

RELATED: Uncle Giuseppe's Pattern of Failure

Stores in East Meadow and Massapequa have also failed repeatedly.

Since learning of the issues, many Patch readers in Port Jefferson have posted comments about bad experiences they've had at the local supermarket. But the chain also has its fans.

"I have found the foods at Uncle G's to be absolutely delicious from the PJS store. Products are a little pricey, but one would expect that from a "gourmet store". One would also expect less DOH inspection infractions. C'mon Uncle G's, rise to the occasion. No one wants to get sick eating your delicious foods that bring us back to the 'other side,'" wrote Lynne Marie-Nitti.

RELATED: Full Map of Port Jefferson Grocery Store Inspections