Memoirs of a Health Inspector: True Stories

When people buy food from supermarkets and restaurants, they do so without much concern for their safety. There are laws, after all, that exist to keep consumers protected from foodborne illness. If they give any thought to it, they assume the inspections that help enforce those laws are routine and uneventful.

On that last point, they would be mistaken.

Memoirs of a Health Inspector recounts the adventures of Bruce D. Lundgren, who worked in food safety for thirty-three years. Lundgren interacted with all sorts of colorful characters, from gun-toting restaurant owners to mobsters. Occupational hazards included not only cockroaches but threats, altercations, bribe proposals, and, in one notable case, an offer of sex to avoid a fine. His experiences taught him to stay strong in the face of both intimidation and temptation-and to treat people with dignity.

In turns irreverent and thought-provoking, Memoirs of a Health Inspector gives readers a glimpse into little-known pockets of humanity while providing reassurance that yes, public health officials really are looking out for us.