PITTSBURGH -- For the past five years, consumer investigator and certified food handler Becky Thompson has been reporting on restaurant inspections in Allegheny County.

The good news is that during that time, the number of consumer alerts have declined. The bad news is that in the past four months a growing number of restaurants have been accused of trying to hide the consumer alerts signs posted.

A consumer alert was posted at the Foundry Ale Works in the Strip last February for 16 days. The trouble was, according to the Allegheny County Health Department, some customers never saw that alert because it was covered by a piece paper.

The Foundry Ale Works paid a $100 fine for concealing a consumer alert posted there for numerous problems, including "improper heating of foods," "inadequate hand washing by employees," a roof leaking water into the building and mice.

Blaze Katich, co-owner of the Foundry Ale Works, said, "Unfortunately, that's how we got this report. We had a table one night and the woman jumped up on the chair and got hysterical."

Health inspectors found evidence of rodent activity throughout the facility.

"There's a couple bags of grain right there and that's what they came in with," Katich said.

Katich credits the county with coming up with an effective plan: using traps and poison to get rid of the mice, for alerting him in the inspection report to maintenance problems such as a broken water line and lack of floor drains and pointing out problems in the kitchen where inspectors found "raw sausage stored with ready to eat foods" within the danger zone of 41 to 140 degrees, where food quickly becomes unsafe.

Katich said the restaurant now has four certified food handlers and a new hand wash sink in the kitchen.

Like the Foundry Ale Works, Darbar Catering, which operates a mobile vending truck parked in Oakland's Schenley Circle, was also accused by the health department of concealing its consumer alert sticker -- its second consumer alert in six months.

In September 2002, Darbar Catering's "Royal India" vending truck had a consumer alert posted for several hours after health inspectors cited it for not holding foods at cold enough temperatures and for having no hot or cold running water.

Six months later, in March, a consumer alert was posted for seven days after inspectors found the truck had "no running water" and dishes like "chicken curry" and "mixed vegetables" were refrigerated at temperatures too warm.

Darbar employee, Daud Mollaha, showed Channel 11's Becky Thompson the truck's new water system and allowed Thompson to check the temperature of food in the refrigerator.

But Darbar Catering isn't out of hot water yet. The health department is taking the vendor to court for the repeat violations.

Guerillmo Cole of the Allegheny County Health Department said, "We are following up the latest consumer alert with a legal action in district court with the magistrate for concealing the decal and for the operating violations."

Darbar Catering says its alert sticker was mistakenly hidden by a menu. Meanwhile, the health department is also taking action against third eatery accused this year of concealing its consumer alert.

Channel 11 aired video in February showing the consumer alert sticker posted at the La Prima Expresso kiosk at CMU was covered up. The health department now says it will fine the eatery for the violation.

Did you know that every year the Allegheny County Health Department awards food facilities that have been nominated by customers for being outstanding in food safety?

Virtually every type of food establishment can be nominated, including grocery stores, caterers, nursing homes and even school cafeterias.

To nominate a food establishment call (412) 687-ACHD or visit the Allegheny County Health Department web site.