Of the 145 eating establishments in Westhampton-Hampton Bays, 17 were cited with health violations over the past year by the Suffolk County Department of Health.

Of those businesses, five were cited with violations in Westhampton Beach, one in Quogue, two in East Quogue, and nine in Hampton Bays.

According to the Department of Health, violations at the various restaurants ran the gamut, like using bare hands to handle food, storing food in nonfunctional refrigerators and housing sanitizing materials near food preparation areas.

Kriegs Bakery in Hampton Bays was among the food establishments that received violations in 2011. The bakery, which was last inspected on April 20, 2011, has been a community landmark nearly 25 years and was open to discuss with Patch the violations, explaining they "weren't anything that caused direct danger."

Responding to the violations, owner Walter Krieg attests that the violations, which included having rat bait without a state pesticide applicators license and a case of raw eggs was found near prepared food, were dealt with immediately after the food inspector's left. 

“I run a business that relies heavily on eggs,” he explained. “I go through 180 dozen eggs a week, I’m very careful about my egg-cracking and disposal procedures and no one has ever gotten sick.”

Krieg recognizes that the inspections are public information and the two instances he received violation for thankfully didn’t cause harm to his customers. As for future inspections he said that he will be diligent to comply with the laws.

To keep the inspectors at bay, Jackie Gambino, of the 40-year-old Baby Moon of Westhampton Beach says she takes extra steps to make sure, when it comes to food preparation, that everything is perfect every day.

“We can’t worry about what day an inspector is coming in,” she said. “Instead we make sure we comply with the regulations every day to keep our clean record.”

To view all Suffolk County Department of Health violations, click here.