Rodents, rotting food, roaches - 7 restaurants fail March Pima County health inspections
- Updated
Seven restaurants failed March inspections by the Pima County Health Department. Five passed follow-up inspections, one is awaiting re-inspection, one failed re-inspection and a follow-up visit is scheduled. (December, January, February inspections included.)
Here’s what you need to know:
- Murphy Woodhouse Arizona Daily Star
- Updated
From March
History: This was its first regularly scheduled inspection.
What the inspector saw: The inspector noted 15 priority violations, three times the minimum necessary for a failing probationary rating. Those included an employee picking up a lid off the floor and returning to work without washing their hands or replacing their gloves, a handsink with no soap or paper towels, raw shell eggs stored over vegetables, an employee failing to sanitize dishes, cooking equipment with food debris, an employee striking the inside of a garbage can with an horchata strainer before rinsing it with water and storing it as clean, inadequate food cooling practices, food stored without preparation dates, and live roaches “in all stages of life” throughout the restaurant.
Follow-up: The restaurant failed a follow-up inspection on April 3.
Response: A message was left for an owner or manager, but was not returned by deadline.
- Murphy Woodhouse Arizona Daily Star
- Updated
From March
History: Since the early 2000s, the restaurant has exclusively received inspection ratings of good or excellent. This was its first failed inspection.
What the inspector saw: The inspector found two priority violations, short of the typical five required for a failing probationary rating. However, because similar violations had been seen in at least three of the last five inspections, it received a probationary rating. The repeat violation had to do with food cooling issues, stemming this time from a walk-in refrigerator keeping food above the mandated 41 degrees. The inspector also observed several shelves in the restaurant encrusted with food debris.
Follow-up: The restaurant passed a follow-up inspection on March 15, the day after the first inspection.
Response: A message was left for an owner or manager, but was not immediately returned by deadline.
- Murphy Woodhouse Arizona Daily Star
- Updated
From March
History: The market has had a mixed inspection history since the early 2000s, earning mostly goods but also a number of needs improvement ratings and just a few excellent ratings. This was its first failed inspection.
What the inspector saw: The county inspector observed six priority violations, including rotting vegetables attracting fruit flies, numerous food packages with obvious “rodent damage,” rodent droppings scattered throughout the mark, and an “extensive rodent infestation throughout the whole store.” Other findings included pesticides stored improperly, extensive accumulation of garbage, and at least 10 feral cats and cat feces around the premises. The inspector noted a strong odor of cat urine and garbage, and a photo provided by the health department shows a skeletonized rodent corpse stuck on a glue trap covered in a thick layer of bugs.
Follow-up: A follow-up inspection had not occurred by deadline, according to online county records.
Response: A message was left for an owner or manager, but was not returned by deadline.
- Murphy Woodhouse Arizona Daily Star
- Updated
From March
History: Since opening last summer, the restaurant has had two regular inspections, receiving a good rating on the first and failing the most recent.
What the inspector saw: The inspector observed 11 priority violations during their March 2 visit, including an employee with an open drink while grilling, an employee not using soap after handling raw chicken, a prep board covered in meat juices and not being cleaned often enough, utensils stored as clean with food debris and inadequate cooling of prepared foods. Nearly every violation was corrected on site.
Follow-up: The restaurant passed a March 13 follow-up inspection.
Response: Michelle Mejia, one of the restaurant’s partners, said an action plan has been put in place for all employees ,and all managers have registered for a food course.
“We take all of this seriously, and that’s why all the codes or violations were taken and addressed seriously,” Mejia said, adding later: “We made a copy of that report, and we go over that report daily, and go over procedures.”
BRAWLEY’S RESTAURANT
History: Since 2014, the restaurant has received two excellent inspection ratings, one good and one needs improvement. This was its first failed inspection.
What the inspector saw: The inspector observed two priority violations: a hand sink blocked by a coffee pot and a cooling device not keeping foods at safe temperatures. Normally a minimum of five priority violations are required for a failing probationary rating, but in this case Brawley’s received that rating because similar violations had been observed in at least three of the previous five regular inspections.
Follow-up: The restaurant passed a follow-up inspection on March 28.
Response: Samantha Boggess, the restaurant’s general manager, said the cooler in question has since been fixed, and added that the inspector did not consider the food to be hazardous. It was moved to another cooler, not tossed out, according to the inspector’s report.
“We take food safety very seriously and we have definitely implemented new policies and procedures to make sure this never happens again,” Boggess said.
TAKAMATSU
History: Since the early 2000s, the restaurant has exclusively received inspection ratings of good or excellent. This was its first failed inspection.
What the inspector saw: The inspector found two priority violations, short of the typical five required for a failing probationary rating. However, because similar violations had been seen in at least three of the last five inspections, it received a probationary rating. The repeat violation had to do with food cooling issues, stemming this time from a walk-in refrigerator keeping food above the mandated 41 degrees. The inspector also observed several shelves in the restaurant encrusted with food debris.
Follow-up: The restaurant passed a follow-up inspection on March 15, the day after the first inspection.
Response: A message was left for an owner or manager, but was not immediately returned by deadline.
- Murphy Woodhouse Arizona Daily Star
- Updated
From March
History: Since 2014, the restaurant has received two excellent inspection ratings, one good and one needs improvement. This was its first failed inspection.
What the inspector saw: The inspector observed two priority violations: a hand sink blocked by a coffee pot and a cooling device not keeping foods at safe temperatures. Normally a minimum of five priority violations are required for a failing probationary rating, but in this case Brawley’s received that rating because similar violations had been observed in at least three of the previous five regular inspections.
Follow-up: The restaurant passed a follow-up inspection on March 28.
Response: Samantha Boggess, the restaurant’s general manager, said the cooler in question has since been fixed, and added that the inspector did not consider the food to be hazardous. It was moved to another cooler, not tossed out, according to the inspector’s report.
“We take food safety very seriously and we have definitely implemented new policies and procedures to make sure this never happens again,” Boggess said.
- Murphy Woodhouse Arizona Daily Star
- Updated
From March
History: This was the day care’s first regularly scheduled inspection.
What the inspector saw: The county inspector observed four priority violations, earning Future Leaders a needs improvement rating. Those violations included two sinks whose water temperature could not exceed 82 degrees and refrigerated food stored beyond the seven days allowed for prepared food.
Follow-up: Future Leaders failed a follow-up inspection on March 22, but passed on March 24.
Response: A day care representative declined to comment.
- Murphy Woodhouse Arizona Daily Star
- Updated
526 W. Columbia St. (commissary location)
From March
History: The food truck has had a mixed inspection record since 2014, receiving a needs improvement rating followed by a failed follow-up, three goods and two excellents. This was its first failing probationary rating.
What the inspector saw: While the exact number of priority violations was not listed in the inspection report, nine total violations were documented. Those included inadequate hand washing and food handling practices, a hand sink without paper towels or soap, food stored above and below established temperatures, and the lack of a food temperature thermometer and sanitizer test strips. A large number of flies were also observed near the mobile food truck.
Follow-up: The food truck passed a follow-up inspection on April 5.
Response: Owner Diego Valencia said he closed the food truck for a day after the failed inspection to address all of the problems, which he said were resolved. He noted that keeping foods adequately cooled in a food truck during warmer months is “difficult, but not impossible.”
“Everything is going good again,” Valencia said of his food truck.
- Murphy Woodhouse Arizona Daily Star
- Updated
4,836 - Food service licenses in Pima County
480 - Excellent and good inspections
16 - Needs improvement inspections
7 - Probationary and failed inspections
Source: Pima County Health Department
- Murphy Woodhouse Arizona Daily Star
- Updated
From February
History: Since 2000, the franchise has received good and excellent ratings exclusively. This was its first failed inspection.
What the inspector saw: During the initial Jan. 27 inspection, the inspector noted four priority violations, including inadequate hand washing, food reheating and food handling practices, as well as the lack of a hand sink in the front counter area. All but the sink violation were corrected on site.
Follow-up: The sink had not been replaced by the Feb. 6 follow-up, resulting in the failed rating.
Response: Jeannette Ornelas, a community relations assistant with the franchisee, told the Star that the sink was scheduled to be installed Thursday. As to the other violations, Ornelas said she doesn’t expect them to be an issue again.
“We do hold our employees to a high standard,” she added.
- Murphy Woodhouse Arizona Daily Star
- Updated
From February
History: Since the early 2000s, this location has largely received ratings of good and excellent. Its only other failed inspection was last summer, according to online county records.
What the inspector saw: On Feb. 24, a county inspector found 10 priority violations, including an employee handling ready-to-eat foods after touching raw meat, inadequate hand and dish washing practices, pesticides applied around two reach-in freezers and numerous dead cockroaches lying in the powdery substance behind the freezers, and a cooler failing to hold foods at safe temperatures. The inspection was in response to a Feb. 23 complaint from a customer who reported that a hostess had used a dirty towel to wipe their table, the kitchen appeared to be “very dirty” from where they were sitting and a waitress brought the customer a cup of a coffee with a large bug — possibly a roach — floating in it. The customer canceled their order and left, according to a copy of the complaint report obtained by the Star.
Follow-up: No follow-up inspection had taken place as of Thursday afternoon.
Response: A message for comment was not returned by deadline.
- Murphy Woodhouse Arizona Daily Star
- Updated
From February
History: Since 2011, the restaurant has largely received ratings of good and excellent, but has failed two previous inspections.
What the inspector saw: The inspector found six priority violations on Feb. 14, earning the restaurant a probationary rating. Those included improper labeling and mingling of shellfish and raw meat stored above ready-to-eat foods.
Follow-up: The restaurant passed a follow-up inspection on Feb. 24.
Response: The Star was told no one was available for comment Thursday afternoon.
- Murphy Woodhouse Arizona Daily Star
- Updated
From February
History: This was the newly opened restaurant’s first regular inspection.
What the inspector saw: During the Feb. 8 inspection, the county observed 13 priority violations, far above the minimum five required for a probationary rating. Among the numerous violations were the absence of a manager with “food safety knowledge,” an employee eating while washing dishes, an employee picking things up off the floor and returning to work without washing hands or changing gloves, an employee handling ready-to-eat foods in the sushi area with bare hands, raw chicken stored above cooked chicken, no sanitizer being used in either the automatic dishwasher and three-compartment sink, a number of food items kept at unsafe temperatures, an employee working with raw and cooked meats on the same surface, among several other violations.
Follow-up: The restaurant failed a Feb. 21 follow-up inspection after the county found that six priority violations had not been resolved in the interim. “Items such as hand washing, cleaning of food contact and prep surfaces and prevention of food contamination remain out of compliance,” the follow-up report reads. Additionally, the person-in-charge “failed to provide a corrective action plan,” as requested in the Feb. 10 probationary letter. During the follow-up, the county observed an employee handle dirty dishes then handle clean utensils without washing hands, several employees “contaminating a food prep surface with raw chicken juices and proceeding to use surface to work with ready-to-eat cooked foods,” and another employee drop a raw potato on the floor and then put it in a fryer. All of the remaining violations were resolved by a second follow-up inspection on March 3, according to online county records.
Response: Restaurant partner Frank Lam said that a number of the first-round violations were due to the fact that there was no documentation indicating that the buffet was using time control, as opposed to temperature control, for the buffet foods, an issue that has since been remedied. Lam chalked some of the cross-contamination issues up to space limitations, but said additional prep tables were added to prevent future violations. Other problems could be addressed with “more of a knowledge basis for all of our employees” and that “some negligence” on the part of employees did play a role. A second follow-up was scheduled for Friday, and Lam said “this time we will not have any problems at all. I made sure my kitchen manager is well aware of what’s going on.”
“If we have any other issues, I’ll make sure everything is corrected,” he added.
- Murphy Woodhouse Arizona Daily Star
- Updated
From February
History: Since the early 2000s, the restaurant has largely received inspections ratings of good and excellent, though it got a needs improvement last year. This was its first failed inspection.
What the inspector saw: On Feb. 23, the inspector observed raw meat stored above ready-to-eat food and a walk-in cooler not keeping food at safe temperatures, resulting in a needs improvement inspection. The inspector returned the next day to check on the cooler and found that it and another reach-in cooler were still not holding foods at safe temperatures and, due to the fact that this was the third “cold holding violation” found at the restaurant within the last five inspections, Michelangelo’s received a failing probationary rating.
Follow-up: A check-up later on the afternoon of Feb. 24 found that the reach-in cooler was holding foods below the mandated 41 degrees, and the walk-in had a much cooler ambient temperature. The inspector instructed management to keep temperature logs.
Response: A message for comment was not returned by deadline.
- Murphy Woodhouse Arizona Daily Star
- Updated
From February
History: Since 2003, the restaurant has largely received inspection ratings of good and excellent, though it has one previous failed inspection and one previous needs improvement inspection.
What the inspector saw: The inspector found five priority violations, the minimum number for a probationary rating. Those included blocked access to a hand sink and a hand sink without soap or paper towels, a single soup container stored above the mandated 41 degrees, and several pans stored as clean with food debris. All were corrected on site.
Follow-up: As of Thursday afternoon, a follow-up inspection had not occurred.
Response: Manager Richard Flory said that all the violations were immediately corrected, and he had also signed himself up to get a food safety certificate. “I have the class tomorrow,” he said Thursday.
- Murphy Woodhouse Arizona Daily Star
- Updated
4,836 - Food service licenses in Pima County
387 - Excellent and good inspections
13 - Needs improvement inspections
6 - Probationary and failed inspections
Source: Pima County Health Department
- Murphy Woodhouse Arizona Daily Star
- Updated
From January
History: Since 2012, the convenience store chain’s location has received three excellent ratings and one needs improvement rating. This was its first failed inspection.
What the inspector saw: The inspector observed seven priority violations, including several problems with hand sinks, food held at potentially unsafe temperatures, and foods without adequate date marking.
Follow-up: The location passed a follow-up inspection on Jan. 17.
Response: A Circle K spokeswoman told the Star that all issues have been addressed with store employees and the facilities department.
- Murphy Woodhouse Arizona Daily Star
- Updated
From January
History: Since 2013, the hotel’s restaurant has received inspection ratings of good and excellent. This was its first failed inspection.
What the inspector saw: On a follow-up to a previous needs-improvement inspection, the inspector found that while the walk-in refrigerator had been repaired, there were still no consumer advisories in menus, resulting in the failed rating.
Follow-up: The restaurant passed a follow-up inspection on Jan. 19.
Response: Manager Tim Heim told the Star that “we never really had the fail,” and that the remaining consumer advisory issue was resolved promptly.
- Murphy Woodhouse Arizona Daily Star
- Updated
From January
History: Since the early 2000s, the hotel has received inspection ratings of good and excellent. This was its first failed inspection.
What the inspector saw: On a follow-up to a previous needs-improvement inspection, the inspector found that the location still had not obtained sanitizer test strips, resulting in the failed inspection. The other issue, a high-temperature dishwasher being without a proper thermometer, was resolved.
Follow-up: The hotel passed a follow-up inspection on Jan. 19.
Response: A message left for the manager was not returned by press time.
- Murphy Woodhouse Arizona Daily Star
- Updated
From January
History: Since the early 2000s, the restaurant has received inspection ratings of good and excellent. This was its first failed inspection.
What the inspector saw: The inspector observed seven priority violations, including an employee handling raw beef and then handling ready-to-eat food before washing his or her hands, chicken kept at unsafe temperatures, no date marking on some foods, and no food thermometer on the premises.
Follow-up: The restaurant passed a follow-up inspection on Jan. 24.
Response: The restaurant could not be reached at the number available online.
- Murphy Woodhouse Arizona Daily Star
- Updated
From January
History: Since the early 2000s, the theater has received ratings of excellent almost exclusively, though it has received one previous needs improvement and two good ratings.
What the inspector saw: During the Jan. 18 inspection, the inspector found two priority violations, including the absence of a required hand sink in the dish washing area. That issue had not been resolved by the follow-up inspection on Jan. 30, resulting in the failed inspection. The report notes that a plumber has been hired for the work.
Follow-up: A follow-up is scheduled for Feb. 9.
Response: An employee told the Star that a manager would not be available until after press time.
- Murphy Woodhouse Arizona Daily Star
- Updated
From January
History: Since 2012, the charter school has exclusively received inspection ratings of excellent. This was its first failed inspection.
What the inspector saw: During a Dec. 12 inspection, the inspector found that the steam-table unit was not keeping foods adequately heated and there was no food thermometer on the premises. During a follow-up nearly a month later, the inspector found that the steam table had not been repaired and only one of five slots was functioning properly, and no food thermometer had been acquired, resulting in the failed rating.
Follow-up: The school passed a follow-up inspection on Jan. 17.
Response: Principal Paul Bummer said that staff had initially tried to fix the steamer, which did not resolve the issue. The school ended up buying a brand new one, along with a food thermometer. “We take this matter seriously,” Bummer added.
- By Murphy Woodhouse Arizona Daily Star
- Updated
The Carondelet St. Joseph’s cafeteria failed a recent health inspection as a result of a faulty refrigerator.
On Jan. 17, a county inspector found that one of several refrigerators at the east side hospital was not keeping foods sufficiently cool. Normally, five priority violations are required to receive a failing “probationary” rating, but in this case the inspector pointed to the cafeteria’s “pattern of non-compliance” in its report.
That means the county has found at least three instances of comparable violations in recent inspections.
The refrigerator in question was removed from service and “all other areas surveyed during this inspection were found to be rated good or excellent,” according to a statement provided by a Carondelet spokeswoman.
“Carondelet St. Joseph’s Hospital takes every effort to ensure quality and safety in all aspects of the care and service that is provided,” the statement read.
It has since passed re-inspection.
- Murphy Woodhouse Arizona Daily Star
- Updated
4,836 - Food service licenses in Pima County
561 - Excellent and good inspections
26 - Needs improvement inspections
7 - Probationary and failed inspections
Source: Pima County Health Department
- Murphy Woodhouse Arizona Daily Star
- Updated
From December
History: Since 2000, the chain’s location has received almost only good and excellent inspection ratings. This was its first failed inspection.
What the inspector saw: While the restaurant did not exceed the five priority violation threshold typically used to give probationary ratings, the restaurant has had repeated issues with regulations regarding the cleaning and sanitizing of so-called food contact surfaces. This time around, the inspector found that a majority of kitchenwares stored as clean were “encrusted with food debris” and that the sanitizing dishwasher was not functioning properly. In the location’s past five inspections, there have been three comparable violations, establishing what the health department considers a pattern of non-conformance, according to an inspection report provided to the Star. Additionally, the inspector observed an employee “eating a piece of food off of a customer’s order before putting the order up to be collected by wait staff,” another “handling raw hamburger” before touching ready-to-eat foods, and raw chicken thawing at room temperature on a countertop.
Follow-up: There was no indication that a follow-up had been conducted by the Star’s deadline.
Response: In written comments provided to the Star, a company spokesperson said that “The health of our guests and team members is always our top priority. We have put together a corrective and preventative action plan and are working closely with the health department to ensure all concerns are addressed.”
- Murphy Woodhouse Arizona Daily Star
- Updated
In December
History: Since 2014, this location has received one excellent and three good inspection ratings. This was its first failed inspection.
What the inspector saw: The inspector found six priority violations, including an ice shaver being stored and used on the “dirty side” of a three compartment sink, food preparation equipment with encrusted food debris, condensed milk stored at room temperature, no food thermometer on site and medicine stored near food preparation areas. Several were corrected on site.
Follow-up: The location passed a Dec. 20 follow-up inspection.
Response: No one responded to a message seeking comment by deadline.
- Murphy Woodhouse Arizona Daily Star
- Updated
In December
History: Since the early 2000s, the location has received inspection ratings of good or excellent. This was its first failed inspection.
What the inspector saw: The inspector observed nine priority violations, including picking up utensils from the floor and returning to food preparation without washing hands, among other hand-washing violations; using hand-washing sink for cooking water and washing floor mats; refried beans kept above safe temperatures and an inadequate dishwashing sink.
Follow-up: The restaurant passed a Dec. 22 follow-up inspection.
Response: No one responded to a message seeking comment by deadline.
- Murphy Woodhouse Arizona Daily Star
- Updated
In December
History: Since 2011 the restaurant has largely received inspection ratings of good, though it has also failed an additional inspection and received two needs improvement ratings.
What the inspector saw: Only one priority violation was observed, but because the same problem with keeping foods adequately cooled was found during two other 2016 inspections, the restaurant received a probationary rating for its history of noncompliance, according to the inspection report.
Follow-up: The restaurant failed a Dec. 27 follow-up inspection.
Response: No one responded to a message seeking comment by deadline.
- Murphy Woodhouse Arizona Daily Star
- Updated
In December
History: Since 2015, the restaurant has had a mixed record, earning an excellent, good and needs improvement inspection rating. This was its first failed inspection.
What the inspector saw: The inspector observed eight priority violations, including an employee washing his hands in the food-preparation sink, an employee sweeping the floor and then proceeding to chop cabbage without washing his hands, equipment with encrusted food debris stored as clean, inadequate cooling and date-marking of food and chopped cabbage being stored in dirty cardboard boxes.
Follow-up: The restaurant passed a Dec. 30 follow-up inspection.
Response: No one responded to a message seeking comment by deadline.
- Murphy Woodhouse Arizona Daily Star
- Updated
In December
History: Since the early 2000s, the location has received ratings of good and excellent. This was its first failed inspection.
What the inspector saw: The inspector found five priority violations, including a hand-washing station with no paper towels, a walk-in cooler not keeping contents adequately cooled, no food thermometer on site, and inadequate coffee pot cleaning practices.
Follow-up: The station passed a Jan. 3 follow-up inspection.
Response: In an email, a spokesperson for Circle K, the permit holder, told the Star: “This is not something that we feel we want to respond to at this time.”
- Murphy Woodhouse Arizona Daily Star
From March
History: This was its first regularly scheduled inspection.
What the inspector saw: The inspector noted 15 priority violations, three times the minimum necessary for a failing probationary rating. Those included an employee picking up a lid off the floor and returning to work without washing their hands or replacing their gloves, a handsink with no soap or paper towels, raw shell eggs stored over vegetables, an employee failing to sanitize dishes, cooking equipment with food debris, an employee striking the inside of a garbage can with an horchata strainer before rinsing it with water and storing it as clean, inadequate food cooling practices, food stored without preparation dates, and live roaches “in all stages of life” throughout the restaurant.
Follow-up: The restaurant failed a follow-up inspection on April 3.
Response: A message was left for an owner or manager, but was not returned by deadline.
- Murphy Woodhouse Arizona Daily Star
From March
History: Since the early 2000s, the restaurant has exclusively received inspection ratings of good or excellent. This was its first failed inspection.
What the inspector saw: The inspector found two priority violations, short of the typical five required for a failing probationary rating. However, because similar violations had been seen in at least three of the last five inspections, it received a probationary rating. The repeat violation had to do with food cooling issues, stemming this time from a walk-in refrigerator keeping food above the mandated 41 degrees. The inspector also observed several shelves in the restaurant encrusted with food debris.
Follow-up: The restaurant passed a follow-up inspection on March 15, the day after the first inspection.
Response: A message was left for an owner or manager, but was not immediately returned by deadline.
- Murphy Woodhouse Arizona Daily Star
From March
History: The market has had a mixed inspection history since the early 2000s, earning mostly goods but also a number of needs improvement ratings and just a few excellent ratings. This was its first failed inspection.
What the inspector saw: The county inspector observed six priority violations, including rotting vegetables attracting fruit flies, numerous food packages with obvious “rodent damage,” rodent droppings scattered throughout the mark, and an “extensive rodent infestation throughout the whole store.” Other findings included pesticides stored improperly, extensive accumulation of garbage, and at least 10 feral cats and cat feces around the premises. The inspector noted a strong odor of cat urine and garbage, and a photo provided by the health department shows a skeletonized rodent corpse stuck on a glue trap covered in a thick layer of bugs.
Follow-up: A follow-up inspection had not occurred by deadline, according to online county records.
Response: A message was left for an owner or manager, but was not returned by deadline.
- Murphy Woodhouse Arizona Daily Star
From March
History: Since opening last summer, the restaurant has had two regular inspections, receiving a good rating on the first and failing the most recent.
What the inspector saw: The inspector observed 11 priority violations during their March 2 visit, including an employee with an open drink while grilling, an employee not using soap after handling raw chicken, a prep board covered in meat juices and not being cleaned often enough, utensils stored as clean with food debris and inadequate cooling of prepared foods. Nearly every violation was corrected on site.
Follow-up: The restaurant passed a March 13 follow-up inspection.
Response: Michelle Mejia, one of the restaurant’s partners, said an action plan has been put in place for all employees ,and all managers have registered for a food course.
“We take all of this seriously, and that’s why all the codes or violations were taken and addressed seriously,” Mejia said, adding later: “We made a copy of that report, and we go over that report daily, and go over procedures.”
BRAWLEY’S RESTAURANT
History: Since 2014, the restaurant has received two excellent inspection ratings, one good and one needs improvement. This was its first failed inspection.
What the inspector saw: The inspector observed two priority violations: a hand sink blocked by a coffee pot and a cooling device not keeping foods at safe temperatures. Normally a minimum of five priority violations are required for a failing probationary rating, but in this case Brawley’s received that rating because similar violations had been observed in at least three of the previous five regular inspections.
Follow-up: The restaurant passed a follow-up inspection on March 28.
Response: Samantha Boggess, the restaurant’s general manager, said the cooler in question has since been fixed, and added that the inspector did not consider the food to be hazardous. It was moved to another cooler, not tossed out, according to the inspector’s report.
“We take food safety very seriously and we have definitely implemented new policies and procedures to make sure this never happens again,” Boggess said.
TAKAMATSU
History: Since the early 2000s, the restaurant has exclusively received inspection ratings of good or excellent. This was its first failed inspection.
What the inspector saw: The inspector found two priority violations, short of the typical five required for a failing probationary rating. However, because similar violations had been seen in at least three of the last five inspections, it received a probationary rating. The repeat violation had to do with food cooling issues, stemming this time from a walk-in refrigerator keeping food above the mandated 41 degrees. The inspector also observed several shelves in the restaurant encrusted with food debris.
Follow-up: The restaurant passed a follow-up inspection on March 15, the day after the first inspection.
Response: A message was left for an owner or manager, but was not immediately returned by deadline.
- Murphy Woodhouse Arizona Daily Star
From March
History: Since 2014, the restaurant has received two excellent inspection ratings, one good and one needs improvement. This was its first failed inspection.
What the inspector saw: The inspector observed two priority violations: a hand sink blocked by a coffee pot and a cooling device not keeping foods at safe temperatures. Normally a minimum of five priority violations are required for a failing probationary rating, but in this case Brawley’s received that rating because similar violations had been observed in at least three of the previous five regular inspections.
Follow-up: The restaurant passed a follow-up inspection on March 28.
Response: Samantha Boggess, the restaurant’s general manager, said the cooler in question has since been fixed, and added that the inspector did not consider the food to be hazardous. It was moved to another cooler, not tossed out, according to the inspector’s report.
“We take food safety very seriously and we have definitely implemented new policies and procedures to make sure this never happens again,” Boggess said.
- Murphy Woodhouse Arizona Daily Star
From March
History: This was the day care’s first regularly scheduled inspection.
What the inspector saw: The county inspector observed four priority violations, earning Future Leaders a needs improvement rating. Those violations included two sinks whose water temperature could not exceed 82 degrees and refrigerated food stored beyond the seven days allowed for prepared food.
Follow-up: Future Leaders failed a follow-up inspection on March 22, but passed on March 24.
Response: A day care representative declined to comment.
- Murphy Woodhouse Arizona Daily Star
526 W. Columbia St. (commissary location)
From March
History: The food truck has had a mixed inspection record since 2014, receiving a needs improvement rating followed by a failed follow-up, three goods and two excellents. This was its first failing probationary rating.
What the inspector saw: While the exact number of priority violations was not listed in the inspection report, nine total violations were documented. Those included inadequate hand washing and food handling practices, a hand sink without paper towels or soap, food stored above and below established temperatures, and the lack of a food temperature thermometer and sanitizer test strips. A large number of flies were also observed near the mobile food truck.
Follow-up: The food truck passed a follow-up inspection on April 5.
Response: Owner Diego Valencia said he closed the food truck for a day after the failed inspection to address all of the problems, which he said were resolved. He noted that keeping foods adequately cooled in a food truck during warmer months is “difficult, but not impossible.”
“Everything is going good again,” Valencia said of his food truck.
- Murphy Woodhouse Arizona Daily Star
4,836 - Food service licenses in Pima County
480 - Excellent and good inspections
16 - Needs improvement inspections
7 - Probationary and failed inspections
Source: Pima County Health Department
- Murphy Woodhouse Arizona Daily Star
From February
History: Since 2000, the franchise has received good and excellent ratings exclusively. This was its first failed inspection.
What the inspector saw: During the initial Jan. 27 inspection, the inspector noted four priority violations, including inadequate hand washing, food reheating and food handling practices, as well as the lack of a hand sink in the front counter area. All but the sink violation were corrected on site.
Follow-up: The sink had not been replaced by the Feb. 6 follow-up, resulting in the failed rating.
Response: Jeannette Ornelas, a community relations assistant with the franchisee, told the Star that the sink was scheduled to be installed Thursday. As to the other violations, Ornelas said she doesn’t expect them to be an issue again.
“We do hold our employees to a high standard,” she added.
- Murphy Woodhouse Arizona Daily Star
From February
History: Since the early 2000s, this location has largely received ratings of good and excellent. Its only other failed inspection was last summer, according to online county records.
What the inspector saw: On Feb. 24, a county inspector found 10 priority violations, including an employee handling ready-to-eat foods after touching raw meat, inadequate hand and dish washing practices, pesticides applied around two reach-in freezers and numerous dead cockroaches lying in the powdery substance behind the freezers, and a cooler failing to hold foods at safe temperatures. The inspection was in response to a Feb. 23 complaint from a customer who reported that a hostess had used a dirty towel to wipe their table, the kitchen appeared to be “very dirty” from where they were sitting and a waitress brought the customer a cup of a coffee with a large bug — possibly a roach — floating in it. The customer canceled their order and left, according to a copy of the complaint report obtained by the Star.
Follow-up: No follow-up inspection had taken place as of Thursday afternoon.
Response: A message for comment was not returned by deadline.
- Murphy Woodhouse Arizona Daily Star
From February
History: Since 2011, the restaurant has largely received ratings of good and excellent, but has failed two previous inspections.
What the inspector saw: The inspector found six priority violations on Feb. 14, earning the restaurant a probationary rating. Those included improper labeling and mingling of shellfish and raw meat stored above ready-to-eat foods.
Follow-up: The restaurant passed a follow-up inspection on Feb. 24.
Response: The Star was told no one was available for comment Thursday afternoon.
- Murphy Woodhouse Arizona Daily Star
From February
History: This was the newly opened restaurant’s first regular inspection.
What the inspector saw: During the Feb. 8 inspection, the county observed 13 priority violations, far above the minimum five required for a probationary rating. Among the numerous violations were the absence of a manager with “food safety knowledge,” an employee eating while washing dishes, an employee picking things up off the floor and returning to work without washing hands or changing gloves, an employee handling ready-to-eat foods in the sushi area with bare hands, raw chicken stored above cooked chicken, no sanitizer being used in either the automatic dishwasher and three-compartment sink, a number of food items kept at unsafe temperatures, an employee working with raw and cooked meats on the same surface, among several other violations.
Follow-up: The restaurant failed a Feb. 21 follow-up inspection after the county found that six priority violations had not been resolved in the interim. “Items such as hand washing, cleaning of food contact and prep surfaces and prevention of food contamination remain out of compliance,” the follow-up report reads. Additionally, the person-in-charge “failed to provide a corrective action plan,” as requested in the Feb. 10 probationary letter. During the follow-up, the county observed an employee handle dirty dishes then handle clean utensils without washing hands, several employees “contaminating a food prep surface with raw chicken juices and proceeding to use surface to work with ready-to-eat cooked foods,” and another employee drop a raw potato on the floor and then put it in a fryer. All of the remaining violations were resolved by a second follow-up inspection on March 3, according to online county records.
Response: Restaurant partner Frank Lam said that a number of the first-round violations were due to the fact that there was no documentation indicating that the buffet was using time control, as opposed to temperature control, for the buffet foods, an issue that has since been remedied. Lam chalked some of the cross-contamination issues up to space limitations, but said additional prep tables were added to prevent future violations. Other problems could be addressed with “more of a knowledge basis for all of our employees” and that “some negligence” on the part of employees did play a role. A second follow-up was scheduled for Friday, and Lam said “this time we will not have any problems at all. I made sure my kitchen manager is well aware of what’s going on.”
“If we have any other issues, I’ll make sure everything is corrected,” he added.
- Murphy Woodhouse Arizona Daily Star
From February
History: Since the early 2000s, the restaurant has largely received inspections ratings of good and excellent, though it got a needs improvement last year. This was its first failed inspection.
What the inspector saw: On Feb. 23, the inspector observed raw meat stored above ready-to-eat food and a walk-in cooler not keeping food at safe temperatures, resulting in a needs improvement inspection. The inspector returned the next day to check on the cooler and found that it and another reach-in cooler were still not holding foods at safe temperatures and, due to the fact that this was the third “cold holding violation” found at the restaurant within the last five inspections, Michelangelo’s received a failing probationary rating.
Follow-up: A check-up later on the afternoon of Feb. 24 found that the reach-in cooler was holding foods below the mandated 41 degrees, and the walk-in had a much cooler ambient temperature. The inspector instructed management to keep temperature logs.
Response: A message for comment was not returned by deadline.
- Murphy Woodhouse Arizona Daily Star
From February
History: Since 2003, the restaurant has largely received inspection ratings of good and excellent, though it has one previous failed inspection and one previous needs improvement inspection.
What the inspector saw: The inspector found five priority violations, the minimum number for a probationary rating. Those included blocked access to a hand sink and a hand sink without soap or paper towels, a single soup container stored above the mandated 41 degrees, and several pans stored as clean with food debris. All were corrected on site.
Follow-up: As of Thursday afternoon, a follow-up inspection had not occurred.
Response: Manager Richard Flory said that all the violations were immediately corrected, and he had also signed himself up to get a food safety certificate. “I have the class tomorrow,” he said Thursday.
- Murphy Woodhouse Arizona Daily Star
4,836 - Food service licenses in Pima County
387 - Excellent and good inspections
13 - Needs improvement inspections
6 - Probationary and failed inspections
Source: Pima County Health Department
- Murphy Woodhouse Arizona Daily Star
From January
History: Since 2012, the convenience store chain’s location has received three excellent ratings and one needs improvement rating. This was its first failed inspection.
What the inspector saw: The inspector observed seven priority violations, including several problems with hand sinks, food held at potentially unsafe temperatures, and foods without adequate date marking.
Follow-up: The location passed a follow-up inspection on Jan. 17.
Response: A Circle K spokeswoman told the Star that all issues have been addressed with store employees and the facilities department.
- Murphy Woodhouse Arizona Daily Star
From January
History: Since 2013, the hotel’s restaurant has received inspection ratings of good and excellent. This was its first failed inspection.
What the inspector saw: On a follow-up to a previous needs-improvement inspection, the inspector found that while the walk-in refrigerator had been repaired, there were still no consumer advisories in menus, resulting in the failed rating.
Follow-up: The restaurant passed a follow-up inspection on Jan. 19.
Response: Manager Tim Heim told the Star that “we never really had the fail,” and that the remaining consumer advisory issue was resolved promptly.
- Murphy Woodhouse Arizona Daily Star
From January
History: Since the early 2000s, the hotel has received inspection ratings of good and excellent. This was its first failed inspection.
What the inspector saw: On a follow-up to a previous needs-improvement inspection, the inspector found that the location still had not obtained sanitizer test strips, resulting in the failed inspection. The other issue, a high-temperature dishwasher being without a proper thermometer, was resolved.
Follow-up: The hotel passed a follow-up inspection on Jan. 19.
Response: A message left for the manager was not returned by press time.
- Murphy Woodhouse Arizona Daily Star
From January
History: Since the early 2000s, the restaurant has received inspection ratings of good and excellent. This was its first failed inspection.
What the inspector saw: The inspector observed seven priority violations, including an employee handling raw beef and then handling ready-to-eat food before washing his or her hands, chicken kept at unsafe temperatures, no date marking on some foods, and no food thermometer on the premises.
Follow-up: The restaurant passed a follow-up inspection on Jan. 24.
Response: The restaurant could not be reached at the number available online.
- Murphy Woodhouse Arizona Daily Star
From January
History: Since the early 2000s, the theater has received ratings of excellent almost exclusively, though it has received one previous needs improvement and two good ratings.
What the inspector saw: During the Jan. 18 inspection, the inspector found two priority violations, including the absence of a required hand sink in the dish washing area. That issue had not been resolved by the follow-up inspection on Jan. 30, resulting in the failed inspection. The report notes that a plumber has been hired for the work.
Follow-up: A follow-up is scheduled for Feb. 9.
Response: An employee told the Star that a manager would not be available until after press time.
- Murphy Woodhouse Arizona Daily Star
From January
History: Since 2012, the charter school has exclusively received inspection ratings of excellent. This was its first failed inspection.
What the inspector saw: During a Dec. 12 inspection, the inspector found that the steam-table unit was not keeping foods adequately heated and there was no food thermometer on the premises. During a follow-up nearly a month later, the inspector found that the steam table had not been repaired and only one of five slots was functioning properly, and no food thermometer had been acquired, resulting in the failed rating.
Follow-up: The school passed a follow-up inspection on Jan. 17.
Response: Principal Paul Bummer said that staff had initially tried to fix the steamer, which did not resolve the issue. The school ended up buying a brand new one, along with a food thermometer. “We take this matter seriously,” Bummer added.
- By Murphy Woodhouse Arizona Daily Star
The Carondelet St. Joseph’s cafeteria failed a recent health inspection as a result of a faulty refrigerator.
On Jan. 17, a county inspector found that one of several refrigerators at the east side hospital was not keeping foods sufficiently cool. Normally, five priority violations are required to receive a failing “probationary” rating, but in this case the inspector pointed to the cafeteria’s “pattern of non-compliance” in its report.
That means the county has found at least three instances of comparable violations in recent inspections.
The refrigerator in question was removed from service and “all other areas surveyed during this inspection were found to be rated good or excellent,” according to a statement provided by a Carondelet spokeswoman.
“Carondelet St. Joseph’s Hospital takes every effort to ensure quality and safety in all aspects of the care and service that is provided,” the statement read.
It has since passed re-inspection.
- Murphy Woodhouse Arizona Daily Star
4,836 - Food service licenses in Pima County
561 - Excellent and good inspections
26 - Needs improvement inspections
7 - Probationary and failed inspections
Source: Pima County Health Department
- Murphy Woodhouse Arizona Daily Star
From December
History: Since 2000, the chain’s location has received almost only good and excellent inspection ratings. This was its first failed inspection.
What the inspector saw: While the restaurant did not exceed the five priority violation threshold typically used to give probationary ratings, the restaurant has had repeated issues with regulations regarding the cleaning and sanitizing of so-called food contact surfaces. This time around, the inspector found that a majority of kitchenwares stored as clean were “encrusted with food debris” and that the sanitizing dishwasher was not functioning properly. In the location’s past five inspections, there have been three comparable violations, establishing what the health department considers a pattern of non-conformance, according to an inspection report provided to the Star. Additionally, the inspector observed an employee “eating a piece of food off of a customer’s order before putting the order up to be collected by wait staff,” another “handling raw hamburger” before touching ready-to-eat foods, and raw chicken thawing at room temperature on a countertop.
Follow-up: There was no indication that a follow-up had been conducted by the Star’s deadline.
Response: In written comments provided to the Star, a company spokesperson said that “The health of our guests and team members is always our top priority. We have put together a corrective and preventative action plan and are working closely with the health department to ensure all concerns are addressed.”
- Murphy Woodhouse Arizona Daily Star
In December
History: Since 2014, this location has received one excellent and three good inspection ratings. This was its first failed inspection.
What the inspector saw: The inspector found six priority violations, including an ice shaver being stored and used on the “dirty side” of a three compartment sink, food preparation equipment with encrusted food debris, condensed milk stored at room temperature, no food thermometer on site and medicine stored near food preparation areas. Several were corrected on site.
Follow-up: The location passed a Dec. 20 follow-up inspection.
Response: No one responded to a message seeking comment by deadline.
- Murphy Woodhouse Arizona Daily Star
In December
History: Since the early 2000s, the location has received inspection ratings of good or excellent. This was its first failed inspection.
What the inspector saw: The inspector observed nine priority violations, including picking up utensils from the floor and returning to food preparation without washing hands, among other hand-washing violations; using hand-washing sink for cooking water and washing floor mats; refried beans kept above safe temperatures and an inadequate dishwashing sink.
Follow-up: The restaurant passed a Dec. 22 follow-up inspection.
Response: No one responded to a message seeking comment by deadline.
- Murphy Woodhouse Arizona Daily Star
In December
History: Since 2011 the restaurant has largely received inspection ratings of good, though it has also failed an additional inspection and received two needs improvement ratings.
What the inspector saw: Only one priority violation was observed, but because the same problem with keeping foods adequately cooled was found during two other 2016 inspections, the restaurant received a probationary rating for its history of noncompliance, according to the inspection report.
Follow-up: The restaurant failed a Dec. 27 follow-up inspection.
Response: No one responded to a message seeking comment by deadline.
- Murphy Woodhouse Arizona Daily Star
In December
History: Since 2015, the restaurant has had a mixed record, earning an excellent, good and needs improvement inspection rating. This was its first failed inspection.
What the inspector saw: The inspector observed eight priority violations, including an employee washing his hands in the food-preparation sink, an employee sweeping the floor and then proceeding to chop cabbage without washing his hands, equipment with encrusted food debris stored as clean, inadequate cooling and date-marking of food and chopped cabbage being stored in dirty cardboard boxes.
Follow-up: The restaurant passed a Dec. 30 follow-up inspection.
Response: No one responded to a message seeking comment by deadline.
- Murphy Woodhouse Arizona Daily Star
In December
History: Since the early 2000s, the location has received ratings of good and excellent. This was its first failed inspection.
What the inspector saw: The inspector found five priority violations, including a hand-washing station with no paper towels, a walk-in cooler not keeping contents adequately cooled, no food thermometer on site, and inadequate coffee pot cleaning practices.
Follow-up: The station passed a Jan. 3 follow-up inspection.
Response: In an email, a spokesperson for Circle K, the permit holder, told the Star: “This is not something that we feel we want to respond to at this time.”
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