54% of Customers Ignore Restaurant Cleanliness

MARLBOROUGH, Mass.More than half of restaurant customers turn a blind eye to cleanliness of a food prep area, according to results of a recent survey conducted by US Food Safety Corp.

The survey, which addressed how restaurant cleanliness influenced consumers dining decisions, revealed more than 70 percent of the respondents cite food quality and taste as the primary reasons for choosing a restaurant, while 5 percent say sanitation is a factor in their restaurant choice.

While consumers ultimately chose food over cleanliness, sanitation was still a concern. In a follow-up question, more than 99 percent of those surveyed said restaurant cleanliness was important and would stay away from a restaurant if they felt it was not clean. More than 70 percent of the respondents dined at restaurants at least once a week.