MAP: Find Out Which Westhampton-Hampton Bays Grocer is the Grossest

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While mold, insects, rats and dust may sound like we're listing plagues, these are actually common violations found in supermarkets and grocery stores across Long Island, including the Westhampton-Hampton Bays area, state data show.

Patch has pulled together information on grocery store inspections across New York state to create our exclusive interactive map, culled from public data supplied by the state's Department of Agriculture and Markets. Unlike restaurants, which are inspected by the Suffolk County Department of Health, grocers in town are inspected by this state agency.

For Westhampton-Hampton Bays Patch, we collected data on 48 markets in the area, ranging from major chain supermarkets to smaller meat or seafood shops, pharmacies and convenience stores. And while sushi restaurants are inspected by the county, sushi stands located in grocery stores are inspected by the state.

RELATED: 5 Things You Should Know About Grocery Inspections

In the data above you find results of a store's latest food safety inspection as of Jan. 30, and the location's past performance. Violations are either listed as "general deficiencies," which inspectors say did not present an immediate heath risk, and "critical deficiencies" that pose a real hazard to customers. One critical violation and the market fails inspection.

How Westhampton-Hampton Bays Scored

The news from state was very good in this area: not one local market failed its most recent health inspection, according to the reports. In fact, no market failed in 2012 at all, a phenomenon not seen often when looking at the data across Long Island.

When it came to general deficiencies that health inspectors do not consider to be health risks, Brewsters Seafood was on top of the list with 24. They mostly related to equipment issues like leaky pipes and chipped vents, and well as some dirt and grime observed by inspectors on some surfaces and storage bins. The market was also cited to having a broken glass door on a retail display.

The Quogue Country Market has the second highest tally of these general issues with 16, including one citation that came when workers found up to 10 live flies in a storage area near the women's room. The market's other issues related to dust and grime.

The Melrose Deli in Hampton Bays had 13 general violations, while the King Kullen, Nurals Farmers Market and Taqueria Y Deli, all in Hampton Bays, had 12 violations.

When it came to the area's cleanest stores, Have Your Cake in Quogue earned that distinction with only one general issue, though workers haven't inspected that business since November 2011.

More recently, the Valero minimart in Westhampton Bay passed its January inspection with on two general deficiencies, both related to dumpster issues. Edible Arrangements in Westhampton Beach also had only two issues related to storage space and an uncovered dumpster.

See the map above for the full results.

According to the state, there were 110 inspectors on the state’s payroll in 2012 responsible for about 31,000 retail food stores and around 6,200 food warehouses, wineries and other processors. Delis are included in the department’s inspections if 50 percent or less of their business is selling ready-to-eat food.

"They are our eyes and ears behind the scenes," said Robert Gravani, a professor at Cornell University who trains state inspectors. Inspectors show up unannounced, and can spend as little as hour or more than a day inspecting a store, said Stephen Stich, Director of Food Safety and Inspection at the department.

The Inspection System

In 29 percent of the 30,372 retail food store inspections conducted statewide in 2012, the inspector found one or more problems that could make customers sick, Patch’s analysis of public records shows. If an inspector finds a serious hazard to food safety, the store fails the inspection.

Our analysis found more than 5,300 stores across the state failed an inspection last year, and more than 1,100 stores failed more than once. The department can fine the store up to $600 for the first critical deficiency, and double that amount for any more critical problems.

The department does more than just hand out fines. Sometimes, inspectors supervise supermarket employees as they correct violations on the spot, such as sanitizing dirty deli slicers, Stich said. Inspectors also hold in-store trainings to educate employees on the importance of food safety.

"These companies want to do things right," Gravani said. "Sometimes they fall down. That’s why you have a regulatory system."

Shoppers should call state inspectors with complaints about their local supermarket, such as spoiled food, Stich said.

You can reach the Long Island and NYC regional office, located in Brooklyn, at 718-722-2876.

But if you think food from the supermarket made you sick, contact your local health department, Stich said.

You can reach the Suffolk County Health Department at 631-854-0000.