Chinese Buffet In Hot Water Over Garlic Stomp

(Rockland County, New York) -- A restaurant in Rockland County is under fire for the way one employee broke apart some garlic.
The Rockland County Health Department has hit the Great China Buffet in Nanuet with two violations after Dan Bareto took pictures of an employee apparently stomping on garlic with his shoes on.

Senior public health sanitarian John Stoughton says the agency does not consider a person's shoe a proper instrument to use in food preparation.

Health inspectors went to the eatery after an employee at a nearby store alerted them to the alleged unsanitary act. He also had the pictures to prove what he saw.

Great China Buffet owner Jiang Shu insists the garlic was thrown away and never served -- which is impossible to prove. Eyewitness News was told the employee was fired. Customers were, well, they're not happy.

Officials say the restaurant has been fined in the past, but since 2001 has had satisfactory inspections. But health officials say after seeing at the picture, say they will keep a close eye on the restaurant.