The majority of restaurants in the city are being operated at "an acceptable level".

Numerous dining establishments and eateries routinely pass health inspections with flying colours.

However, there are exceptions, because some restaurants have been cited for storing food in garbage bags, for keeping food at unsafe temperatures, and for having rodent and/or insect infestations.

There are 13 Health Inspectors in London who spend about half their time visiting about 15 hundred eating establishments in the city.

Their primary task is to ensure public safety by measuring each restaurant's risk factors...

They divide their findings into two main groups, critical violations and non-critical violations.

A critical violation is something that can lead directly to a food borne illness and requires immediate medical attention.

A non-critical violation is not likely to lead to illness.

Health inspectors usually find one kind or another at even the best restaurants from time to time.

Last year , in fact, there were 13 violations at one popular high-end eatery.

When things go wrong, inspectors try to educate operators and get them to make corrections.

However, if that doesn't work, they can lay charges.

In some cases, they can , and have , closed restaurants entirely.

The number of restaurants in London operating on the fringes of acceptability is high, but the number facing actual charges is very low.

The Golden Dragon in Byron was charged with failing to keep the premises clean enough to prevent food contamination last month, making it the only establishment charged by public health inspectors this year.

They have noted it has stored food on the floor, not covered food properly, not cleaned all food preparation equipment to remove food waste, dirt, and mould, and failed to place raw meat away from, and below, ready-to-eat food in a cooler.

The owner of the Golden Dragon for the past ten years, Paul Wong, says this is the first charge, and it relates to housekeeping issues, and not food quality.

Wong says he intends to pay the fine, but he also insists that his food is safe, and that he is the victim of inspectors showing up in a busy meal period.

He says his restaurant is giving a good cleaning after each meal rush.

The Golden Dragon has been the only restaurant charged this year, but inspectors say there are at least 20 others with less than satisfactory records.

Most of them have been threatened with charges regarding infractions like food being stored in garbage bags, ungraded eggs, salted fish being stored at room temperature for 2 weeks, filth and dirt in kitchens and washrooms, dirty utensils, and insect and rodent infestations.

In past years health inspectors say they've seen worse, including a massive cockroach infestation at a London restaurant still in business today - with new owners.

Nonetheless, the inspectors say there are few infractions considering the huge number of inspections they carry out.

So what's the food safety record of your favourite restaurant?

Currently, Londoners can only find out by requesting records from the public health unit.

However, in the Waterloo area for example, restaurant inspection records are available on-line 24 hours a day.

The system is getting rave reviews from the public and the cost, about 25 thousand dollars a year, is relatively low.

Patrons can go to the Waterloo web site and click on food inspection reports, and check the records of restaurants in the area in alphabetical order.

There were over a million hits in year one of the Internet site, which is now in its third year.

A similar system in London, health unit inspectors say, would have to jump several hurdles , including funding, legal concerns, and both public and industry reaction.

Nonetheless, this A-Channel News series is provoking some action.

In response to its six week investigation the health unit is now working on an on-line inspection disclosure system for London.

It's expected to be presented to the Board of Health in January.

However, even if it is immediately approved, on-line restaurant inspections won't be available until late in 2007.