A Tennessee restaurant should never score below a 90. Period. Any conscientious restaurant manager or fastidious health department inspector (they like to be called "environmentalists") will tell you that.

However, the fact is sometimes a restaurant's critical violation is really an environmentalist's judgment call.

Sometimes, they get it wrong.

Like the time a health department environmentalist slapped a Mexican restaurant with a critical violation for "improperly labeled" containers sitting on the pantry shelf with food items.

The containers' labels read "ajo" and "cebolla," respectively. 

"Garlic."  "Onion."

The restaurant's kitchen staff had labeled them in Spanish because, surprise, the staff speaks Spanish. You know, being a Mexican place and all.

But the environmentalist docked the establishment for not labeling the containers in English. 

Despite reporting Mid-South restaurants' health inspection scores every Thursday on Andy's Restaurant Scorecard, I continue to meet viewers who don't know restaurants are required to post those scores, whether it's Tennessee, Mississippi or Arkansas.

Establishments must post those scores someplace where customers can see them:  the entrance, cash register, bar, etc.

If they don't, it's a health code violation. 

Mississippi's health department uses a letter-grade system:  A, B, C. No failures. They are white reports with large, green grades. Restaurants typically frame them for public inspection.

The restaurant inspectors of the Arkansas Department of Health don't employ a grading system at all. They just list the violations.

The hugely successful Eco Expo is back with even more exhibitors showing us how to treat our earth more gently with green products, materials, services, and organizations.

Exhibitors will be offering ideas and information, and some will be selling their products and services.

The Expo is Sunday February 5th, 2012 from 11am until 3pm at Temple Israel--1376 East Massey Road...Memphis, TN.

For kids and adults of all ages, there’s something for everyone!

Learn, eat, explore, or just visit with some really nice people.

Remember the proverb, “Treat the earth well: it was not given to you by your parents; it was loaned to you by your children.”

We are working together with our fellow community leaders and congregations of all faiths to help save the planet.

E-mail TIMemphisEcoExpo@msn.com or call Linda Kaplan 482-6473 for more information.