Waltham students and faculty can breathe easy knowing their campus dining options are largely meeting safety standards following a comprehensive sweep by the local Health Department. Throughout October, inspectors visited 52 different food service sites across the city’s educational landscape, including public and private schools as well as various eateries at the area’s two universities. According to Health Inspector Ivan Colon, these biannual checks are essential for maintaining safe eating environments, and this latest round showed that the vast majority of locations operated without any code violations.
While most facilities sailed through the process, some spots faced minor setbacks. Four restaurants at Bentley University were cited for small infractions, though officials noted those issues were corrected quickly. Inspector Michael Collins praised the university’s responsiveness and reminded the public that even simple fixes are labeled critical if they involve equipment touching food or drink, such as ice machines. Outside of the academic sector, most retail and beauty businesses also fared well, although Happy Feet Reflexology suffered a prolonged temporary closure due to mouse infestations before finally passing re-inspection in early November.
Beyond the kitchen audits, city health officials remain concerned about environmental risks lurking in local waters. A standing advisory against swimming in or drinking from Hardy Pond remains in place after recent tests showed an increase in cyanobacteria levels. Inspector Colon attributed these fluctuating counts to ongoing rain droughts, urging residents to continue avoiding the pond until further notice.
The department has also been busy tackling quality-of-life complaints from residents over the past month. From late September into early November, investigators fielded dozens of reports regarding moldy housing, leaky apartments, and rodent sightings throughout the city. While many cases were resolved or found baseless upon inspection, several housing and pest complaints remain open as officials work with property owners to bring substandard living conditions back up to code.
