The Restaurant Monitor is a weekly listing of scores for restaurants inspected by the Brazos County Health Department. Inspection scores are on a 100-point scale. Generally, scores below 80 might cause the department to schedule a follow-up visit. A score below 70 results in the suspension of an establishment's health permit.

With today's trend away from home-cooked meals, it is obvious that millions of Americans are eating out or picking up food to consume at home, and the numbers are climbing. Because our very health is at stake, that means we're trusting others who prepare our food to be as clean in their kitchens as we are at home.

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- A local restaurant that has been serving customers for more than 40 years appeared before Columbus Public Health officials Monday. Shades Restaurant at 983 E. 5th Ave. had 11 critical food-safety violations during a CPH inspection Thursday, March 19.

If you're planning to go out to eat today, you may want to visit the Salt Lake Valley Health Department's new Web site on restaurant inspections. It contains details of the county's most recent inspection reports and enables users to compare three establishments to see which has the best compliance rating.