Rodent, roach, extra filthy - 14 more restaurants fail May Pima County health inspections
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Fourteen restaurants failed May inspections by the Pima County Health Department. Eight passed follow-up inspections, five are awaiting re-inspection and one restaurant has closed. Inspections from April, March, February included.
Here’s what you need to know:
- Murphy Woodhouse Arizona Daily Star
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In May
History: Since the early 2000s, the restaurant has received inspection ratings of good and excellent almost exclusively. It had one needs improvement inspection last year and this was its first failed inspection.
What the inspector saw: The inspector saw three priority violations, below the threshold of five normally required to receive a probationary rating. However, because the restaurant has had issues with the dishwasher water temperatures for at least three of the last five inspections, it failed the inspection. The other violations observed were an instance of improper dish handling, a failure to clean a set of tongs dropped on the ground and a food debris-encrusted microwave.
Follow-up: The restaurant passed a follow-up inspection on May 12.
Response: Manager Darryl Wong disputed the probationary rating, saying that during the follow-up inspection two separate county thermometers gave disparate readings, one showing a passing temperature and the other a failing temperature. He added that if not for the dishwasher issue, the restaurant “would have passed” the original inspection. But David Ludwig, consumer health and food safety program manager, stood by the county’s original results. He said the readings were accurate and reflected the fact that, while the water temperature may have been in compliance when it exited the nozzles, it was not at the mandated 160 degrees in some areas of the machine. He also pointed to findings of below-temperature readings during previous inspections as evidence that there was a legitimate issue.
- Murphy Woodhouse Arizona Daily Star
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In May
History: Since the early 2000s, the donut shop has exclusively received inspection ratings of good and excellent. This was its first failed inspection.
What the inspector saw: The county inspector noted five priority violations, including wire racks “with an excessive amount of dirt, debris and caked-on food,” unapproved insecticide, utensils not being sanitized and a sink with a direct connection to the sewer system.
Follow-up: The shop failed a follow-up inspection on May 16 and another had not been conducted by press time, according to online county records.
Response: Manager Operan Kem said that all of the violations have been addressed with the exception of the sink, which a contractor is set to work on. Kem expects to pass the next follow-up, adding: “If there's an issue that the health department sees, we will comply.”
- Murphy Woodhouse Arizona Daily Star
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In May
History: This was the restaurant’s first regular inspection after opening in April.
What the inspector saw: The inspector observed 10 priority inspections, including food handling and storage issues.
Follow-up: The restaurant failed a follow-up on May 16.
Response: A representative said the restaurant has closed and may not reopen.
- Murphy Woodhouse Arizona Daily Star
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In May
History: Since 2000, this Circle K location has received inspection ratings of good and excellent exclusively. This was its first failed inspection.
What the inspector saw: The inspector saw seven priority violations, including a store manager unaware of proper heating temperatures, a nonfunctioning paper towel dispenser at a hand sink, no hand sink in a warewashing area, insufficient cleaning of hot dog tongs, hot dogs kept below mandated temperatures, prepared foods kept above established temperatures, and improper sanitizer test strips. Additionally, the restroom did not have signage reminding employees to wash their hands.
Follow-up: The chain location passed a follow-up inspection on May 25.
Response: In response to a request for comment on three failed Circle K inspections in May, a company spokeswoman provided written comments that noted “Circle K takes immediate corrective action when receiving a failed inspection notice. All items noted on the May 2017 inspections have been addressed with store employees and our facilities department.”
- Murphy Woodhouse Arizona Daily Star
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In May
History: This was the convenience store’s second routine inspection. It received a rating of excellent on the first.
What the inspector saw: The county inspector saw seven priority violations, including a blocked hand sink, inadequate washing of hot dog tongs, undated and opened hot dog bags and improper dish washing practices.
Follow-up: The location passed a follow-up inspection on June 5.
Response: In response to a request for comment on three failed Circle K inspections in May, a company spokeswoman provided written comments that noted “Circle K takes immediate corrective action when receiving a failed inspection notice. All items noted on the May 2017 inspections have been addressed with store employees and our facilities department.”
- Murphy Woodhouse Arizona Daily Star
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In May
History: Since the early 2000s, this location has exclusively received inspection ratings of good and excellent.
What the inspector saw: The county inspector observed six priority violations, including no hand sink in the warewashing area, a nonfunctioning paper towel dispenser at another, prepared food stored below safe hot holding temperatures and above safe cold holding temperatures, rodent droppings in a number of areas, including under the hot dog roller. A dead cockroach and rodent were also found on a glue board in the dry storage area.
Follow-up: The convenience store passed a June 5 follow-up inspection.
Response: In response to a request for comment on three failed Circle K inspections in May, a company spokeswoman provided written comments that noted “Circle K takes immediate corrective action when receiving a failed inspection notice. All items noted on the May 2017 inspections have been addressed with store employees and our facilities department.”
- Murphy Woodhouse Arizona Daily Star
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In May
History: Since the mid-2000s, the restaurant has exclusively received inspection ratings of good and excellent, according to county inspection records. This was its first failed inspection.
What the inspector saw: The inspector saw five priority violations, including improper storage of raw meats, dirty shelving in the walk-in cooler, items stored above safe cold holding temperatures, no date marking on prepared foods and inadequate food labeling.
Follow-up: No follow-up had occurred by deadline, according to online inspection records.
Response: A message left seeking comment was not returned by deadline.
- Murphy Woodhouse Arizona Daily Star
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In May
History: The grocery store as a whole has exclusively received inspection ratings of good and excellent since 2000. This was the first failed inspection of any permitted part of the store.
What the inspector saw: The inspector observed more than five priority violations, including an employee rinsing a tomato in a hand sink, use of improper gloves, deli slicers encrusted with food debris, inadequate cooling of prepared foods, foods stored above established cold holding temperatures and improper expiration date labeling of lunch meats.
Follow-up: A follow-up had not been conducted by deadline.
Response: Company spokeswoman Pam Giannonatti said Fry’s sent a food safety specialist to the store to speak with the entire deli team and assigned a new manager to the deli. Additionally, a number of employees will be taking the county’s food safety class. Giannonatti expects the deli to pass the follow-up inspection. “The health and safety of our customer is our top priority,” she added.
- Murphy Woodhouse Arizona Daily Star
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In May
History: Since 2014, this location has received one good and one needs improvement inspection rating. This was its first failed inspection.
What the inspector saw: The inspector noted at least five priority violations, including an employee handling ready-to-eat tortillas with their bare hands, a hand sink filled with utensils, foods stored outside of established temperatures and improper date marking.
Follow-up: The restaurant passed a follow-up on May 15.
Response: In a written response, general manager Francisco Carrasco said “we are happy to assure our customers that the Guadalajara Grill proudly maintains the highest level of trained staff and procedures in industry,” adding later: “We demonstrate that we go above and beyond the requirements for the benefit of strengthening our good reputation and trust of our valued family of loyal, happy customers.”
- Murphy Woodhouse Arizona Daily Star
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In May
History: Since 2015, the restaurant has received only ratings of good and excellent. This was its first failed inspection.
What the inspector saw: Only a single violation was observed, but it was one that had been noted in at least three previous inspections, earning the restaurant a failing probationary rating. The violation stemmed from a make-unit cooler not keeping foods at established cold-holding temperatures.
Follow-up: A follow-up inspection had not occurred by deadline.
Response: Company spokesman Matt Clauser said the make-unit had been replaced and expects the restaurant to pass a follow-up inspection scheduled for Monday.
- Murphy Woodhouse Arizona Daily Star
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In May
History: Since 2013, the restaurant has largely received inspection ratings of good and excellent, though they failed a previous inspection in 2014.
What the inspector saw: On May 4, the inspector observed four priority violations, earning the restaurant a needs improvement rating. Those included a dishwasher that tested negative for sanitizing solution, improper cooling of prepared food, and food stored without proper date marking. The inspector also observed fruit flies near produce.
Follow-up: The restaurant failed a follow-up inspection before passing on May 18.
Response: A message left seeking comment was not returned by deadline.
- Murphy Woodhouse Arizona Daily Star
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In May
History: Since 2014, this location has largely received inspection ratings of good, though it did get a needs improvement rating in 2016 and failed a follow-up.
What the inspector saw: The inspector observed three priority violations, below the normal threshold for a failing probationary rating. However, because the restaurant has had cold holding violations in three of the last five inspections, it received a failing probationary rating.
The other violations included a blocked hand sink and an employee washing their hands in a prep sink.
Follow-up: The restaurant passed a May 30 follow-up.
Response: Manager Kimberly Rifici said the reach-in cooler that was the source of the cold holding violations was replaced, and a staff meeting was held to address the other issues. “We are very passionate about serving our community,” she added.
- Murphy Woodhouse Arizona Daily Star
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In May
History: Since the mid-2000s, the restaurant has exclusively received inspection ratings of good and excellent. This was its first failed inspection.
What the inspector saw: The inspector observed five priority violations, including two blocked hand washing sinks, a dishwasher without measurable levels of sanitizer, foods stored above established temperatures, food held beyond discard dates and time-control rice not being discarded quickly enough.
Follow-up: The restaurant passed a June 6 follow-up.
Response: A message left seeking comment was not returned by deadline.
- Murphy Woodhouse Arizona Daily Star
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In May
History: Since the mid-2000s, the store has exclusively received inspection ratings of good and excellent.
What the inspector saw: The inspector observed four priority violations on May 19, earning the shop a needs improvement rating. Those violations included holding prepared foods below established hot holding temperatures, improper labeling of chemical bottles and issues with a sink.
Follow-up: The tortilleria failed a May 30 follow-up.
Response: Owner Fernando Jimenez said that all of the remaining issues have been resolved, and he expected to pass a follow-up inspection planned for Friday.
- Murphy Woodhouse Arizona Daily Star
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4,836 - Food service licenses in Pima County
648 - Excellent and good inspections
46 - Needs improvement inspections
14 - Probationary and failed inspections
Source: Pima County Health Department
- Murphy Woodhouse Arizona Daily Star
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In April
History: Since 2011, the restaurant has exclusively received inspection ratings of good and excellent. This was its first failed inspection.
What the inspector saw: The inspector observed four priority violations, short of the five that are normally required for a failing probationary rating. However, because the restaurant had similar issues with the cold-holding of food in several recent inspections, it got a probationary rating for a “pattern of non-compliance.” Beyond food temperature issues, the inspector also observed an employee wash a knife without sanitizing it and another set a personal drink near a prep table.
Follow-up: The restaurant passed an April 14 follow-up inspection.
Response: Owner Dean Griffith said adjustments were made to the restaurant’s coolers, and that the other issues have been addressed. “Everything that was noted has been corrected and will stay corrected,” he said.
- Murphy Woodhouse Arizona Daily Star
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In April
History: Since the early 2000s, the restaurant has largely received inspection ratings of good and excellent, but had two needs improvement inspections. This was its first failed inspection.
What the inspector saw: The inspector found eight priority violations, including an employee cracking an egg and then handling other items without changing gloves or washing their hands, incomplete records of sushi fish freezing practices, a bag of raw chicken in the same container as water chestnuts and dinner menus without mandated food safety warnings.
Follow-up: The restaurant passed a follow-up inspection on April 14.
Response: A message seeking comment was not returned by deadline.
- Murphy Woodhouse Arizona Daily Star
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In April
History: Since 2015, the food truck has received three excellent inspection ratings. This was its first failed inspection.
What the inspector saw: It was not clear how many priority violations the inspector found, but among them was a self-serve condiment stand not keeping items cool enough and clean utensils stored improperly.
Follow-up: The food truck passed an April 24 follow-up.
Response: A message seeking comment was not returned by deadline.
- Murphy Woodhouse Arizona Daily Star
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In April
History: Since the early 2000s, the location has largely received inspection ratings of good and excellent, though it did receive two needs improvement inspections. This was its first failed inspection.
What the inspector saw: The inspector found 11 priority violations, earning El Herradero a failing probationary rating. The violations included inadequate hand washing practices, a hand sink blocked by items stored in it, cheese from Mexico and homemade carne seca being sold, unsafe storage of raw meats, insufficient sanitizing of utensils, and foods stored above mandated temperatures.
Follow-up: The butcher and grocery store failed a follow-up inspection on April 20 and another had not been conducted by deadline.
Response: Owner Emilio Murrieta said that all of the problems have been corrected and he expects to pass the next inspection.
- Murphy Woodhouse Arizona Daily Star
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In April
History: Since 2000, the restaurant has almost exclusively received inspection ratings of good and excellent, though it failed an inspection in 2010 and got a needs improvement in 2002.
What the inspector saw: The inspector observed seven priority violations, including an employee washing their hands with gloves on, another handling raw chicken and then handling clean dishes without washing their hands, no hot water in the only hand sink, and meat thawed in a three-compartment cleaning sink without running water.
Follow-up: The restaurant passed an April 14 follow-up inspection.
Response: Owner Ann Yohn said that since the inspection a number of her employees have taken the county’s food safety class and that all of the “problems have been corrected.”
- Murphy Woodhouse Arizona Daily Star
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In April
History: Since 2000, Pueblo High School has almost exclusively received inspection ratings of good and excellent. It had one needs improvement inspection in 2006. This was its first failed inspection.
What the inspector saw: The inspector observed five priority violations, the minimum for a failing probationary rating. Those included a kitchen hand sink with no hot water and another without paper towels or soap, insufficiently hot dishwasher water and inadequate date marking on multiple items.
Follow-up: The high school passed an April 17 follow-up.
Response: Shirley Sokol, Tucson Unified School District’s food services director, said some of the issues had to do with employees getting accustomed to changes made to the food code last year, and the rest have been resolved.
“Food safety and sanitation is very important to us, so we keep a good eye on that,” she said. “We’re doing a lot of training with our staff on the new food code and we’ll continue to make sure that they’re taking the new steps necessary.”
- Murphy Woodhouse Arizona Daily Star
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In April
History: Since 2009, the Circle K location has exclusively received inspection ratings of good and excellent. This was its first failed inspection.
What the inspector saw: The inspector noted nine priority violations, including a hand washing sink without paper towels, chemicals stored above clean utensils, prepared hamburger patties and other meats stored below safe temperatures, other food stored above safe temperatures, and opened ice cream cones in a drawer accessible to customers.
Follow-up: The convenience store passed an April 14 follow-up inspection.
Response: “Circle K takes immediate corrective action when receiving a failed inspection notice. All items noted on the … inspection … have been addressed with store employees and our facilities department,” company spokeswoman Donna Humphrey wrote in an email.
- Murphy Woodhouse Arizona Daily Star
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In April
History: Since 2004, the restaurant has largely received inspection ratings of good and excellent. However, it failed one other inspection in 2006.
What the inspector saw: The inspector saw six priority violations, including an employee removing gloves but not washing their hands after handling raw fish and eggs before handling onion, a mixer encrusted with food debris, and beans and salsa stored above safe temperatures.
Follow-up: The restaurant passed a follow-up inspection on April 17.
Response: A message seeking comment was not returned by deadline.
- Murphy Woodhouse Arizona Daily Star
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In April
History: Since 2006, the Subway location has exclusively received inspection ratings of good and excellent. This was its first failed inspection.
What the inspector saw: The inspector observed five priority violations, including employees switching between tasks without washing hands, numerous food containers encrusted with food debris and five containers of expired pastrami and salami.
Follow-up: The restaurant passed a follow-up inspection on April 24.
Response: Nick Edgar, Subway’s area director, said that all of the issues were addressed and a number of employees have since received food safety certification.
“When they came back to do follow-up , we aced it, so no problems at that location anymore,” he added.
- Murphy Woodhouse Arizona Daily Star
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In April
History: Since 2012, this McDonald’s location has only received inspection ratings of good and excellent. This was its first failed inspection.
What the inspector saw: The inspector found six priority violations, including an employee removing gloves after handling raw chicken but not washing their hands before handling utensils, utensils not being adequately sanitized, foods stored above safe temperatures, and chemical cleaner stored above utensils.
Follow-up: The restaurant passed a follow-up inspection on April 14.
Response: A message seeking comment was not returned by deadline.
- Murphy Woodhouse Arizona Daily Star
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In April
History: This was the restaurant’s first regular inspection.
What the inspector saw: The inspector noted four priority violations, earning the deli a needs improvement rating. Those included an employee switching between tasks without washing their hands, another handle a ready-to-eat bagel with their bare hands, a slicer stored as clean with food debris and a deli case not keeping food sufficiently cool. During the April 21 follow-up, the deli case was still not functioning properly, earning AKA the failed inspection.
Follow-up: The deli passed the next follow-up on April 28.
Response: Owner Sally Kane said the deli case was recalibrated and now functions correctly. She also spoke with staff about the other issues.
- Murphy Woodhouse Arizona Daily Star
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In April
History: Since 2015, the restaurant has exclusively received inspection ratings of good. This was its first fail.
What the inspector saw: The inspector noted eight priority violations, including an employee handling ready-to-eat food with their bare hands, tea bags stored under sink plumbing, some foods stored above mandated temperatures, foods stored without date of preparations marks, impermissible “bottles of pesticide throughout the establishment,” and cups stored under a sewer line.
Follow-up: A follow-up inspection had not occurred by deadline.
Response: A message seeking comment was not returned by deadline.
- Murphy Woodhouse Arizona Daily Star
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In April
History: This was the restaurant’s first regular inspection.
What the inspector saw: The inspector noted 10 priority violations, including an employee drinking a beverage “throughout the kitchen,” a hand sink blocked by items stored in it, an employee failing to sanitize dishes, a whole chicken kept below safe temperatures, cleaning and chemicals stored near canned goods.
Follow-up: The restaurant passed a follow-up inspection on April 28.
Response: A message seeking comment was not returned by deadline.
- Murphy Woodhouse Arizona Daily Star
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In April
History: Since 2012, the restaurant has exclusively received inspection ratings of good and excellent. This was its first failed inspection.
What the inspector saw: The inspector observed eight priority violations, including employees not washing their hands due to a sink being out of order, rice being stored in a detergent container, numerous utensils and food-contact surfaces “encrusted with food debris.” The restaurant was closed after the inspection due to the non-functioning hand sink, but reopened the next day.
Follow-up: Kimchi Time failed a follow-up on April 24 and another had not been conducted by press time.
Response: A message seeking comment was not returned by deadline.
- Murphy Woodhouse Arizona Daily Star
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4,836 - Food service licenses in Pima County
521 - Excellent and good inspections
15 - Needs improvement inspections
14 - Probationary and failed inspections
Source: Pima County Health Department
- Murphy Woodhouse Arizona Daily Star
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
In May
History: Since the early 2000s, the restaurant has received inspection ratings of good and excellent almost exclusively. It had one needs improvement inspection last year and this was its first failed inspection.
What the inspector saw: The inspector saw three priority violations, below the threshold of five normally required to receive a probationary rating. However, because the restaurant has had issues with the dishwasher water temperatures for at least three of the last five inspections, it failed the inspection. The other violations observed were an instance of improper dish handling, a failure to clean a set of tongs dropped on the ground and a food debris-encrusted microwave.
Follow-up: The restaurant passed a follow-up inspection on May 12.
Response: Manager Darryl Wong disputed the probationary rating, saying that during the follow-up inspection two separate county thermometers gave disparate readings, one showing a passing temperature and the other a failing temperature. He added that if not for the dishwasher issue, the restaurant “would have passed” the original inspection. But David Ludwig, consumer health and food safety program manager, stood by the county’s original results. He said the readings were accurate and reflected the fact that, while the water temperature may have been in compliance when it exited the nozzles, it was not at the mandated 160 degrees in some areas of the machine. He also pointed to findings of below-temperature readings during previous inspections as evidence that there was a legitimate issue.
- Murphy Woodhouse Arizona Daily Star
In May
History: Since the early 2000s, the donut shop has exclusively received inspection ratings of good and excellent. This was its first failed inspection.
What the inspector saw: The county inspector noted five priority violations, including wire racks “with an excessive amount of dirt, debris and caked-on food,” unapproved insecticide, utensils not being sanitized and a sink with a direct connection to the sewer system.
Follow-up: The shop failed a follow-up inspection on May 16 and another had not been conducted by press time, according to online county records.
Response: Manager Operan Kem said that all of the violations have been addressed with the exception of the sink, which a contractor is set to work on. Kem expects to pass the next follow-up, adding: “If there's an issue that the health department sees, we will comply.”
- Murphy Woodhouse Arizona Daily Star
In May
History: This was the restaurant’s first regular inspection after opening in April.
What the inspector saw: The inspector observed 10 priority inspections, including food handling and storage issues.
Follow-up: The restaurant failed a follow-up on May 16.
Response: A representative said the restaurant has closed and may not reopen.
- Murphy Woodhouse Arizona Daily Star
In May
History: Since 2000, this Circle K location has received inspection ratings of good and excellent exclusively. This was its first failed inspection.
What the inspector saw: The inspector saw seven priority violations, including a store manager unaware of proper heating temperatures, a nonfunctioning paper towel dispenser at a hand sink, no hand sink in a warewashing area, insufficient cleaning of hot dog tongs, hot dogs kept below mandated temperatures, prepared foods kept above established temperatures, and improper sanitizer test strips. Additionally, the restroom did not have signage reminding employees to wash their hands.
Follow-up: The chain location passed a follow-up inspection on May 25.
Response: In response to a request for comment on three failed Circle K inspections in May, a company spokeswoman provided written comments that noted “Circle K takes immediate corrective action when receiving a failed inspection notice. All items noted on the May 2017 inspections have been addressed with store employees and our facilities department.”
- Murphy Woodhouse Arizona Daily Star
In May
History: This was the convenience store’s second routine inspection. It received a rating of excellent on the first.
What the inspector saw: The county inspector saw seven priority violations, including a blocked hand sink, inadequate washing of hot dog tongs, undated and opened hot dog bags and improper dish washing practices.
Follow-up: The location passed a follow-up inspection on June 5.
Response: In response to a request for comment on three failed Circle K inspections in May, a company spokeswoman provided written comments that noted “Circle K takes immediate corrective action when receiving a failed inspection notice. All items noted on the May 2017 inspections have been addressed with store employees and our facilities department.”
- Murphy Woodhouse Arizona Daily Star
In May
History: Since the early 2000s, this location has exclusively received inspection ratings of good and excellent.
What the inspector saw: The county inspector observed six priority violations, including no hand sink in the warewashing area, a nonfunctioning paper towel dispenser at another, prepared food stored below safe hot holding temperatures and above safe cold holding temperatures, rodent droppings in a number of areas, including under the hot dog roller. A dead cockroach and rodent were also found on a glue board in the dry storage area.
Follow-up: The convenience store passed a June 5 follow-up inspection.
Response: In response to a request for comment on three failed Circle K inspections in May, a company spokeswoman provided written comments that noted “Circle K takes immediate corrective action when receiving a failed inspection notice. All items noted on the May 2017 inspections have been addressed with store employees and our facilities department.”
- Murphy Woodhouse Arizona Daily Star
In May
History: Since the mid-2000s, the restaurant has exclusively received inspection ratings of good and excellent, according to county inspection records. This was its first failed inspection.
What the inspector saw: The inspector saw five priority violations, including improper storage of raw meats, dirty shelving in the walk-in cooler, items stored above safe cold holding temperatures, no date marking on prepared foods and inadequate food labeling.
Follow-up: No follow-up had occurred by deadline, according to online inspection records.
Response: A message left seeking comment was not returned by deadline.
- Murphy Woodhouse Arizona Daily Star
In May
History: The grocery store as a whole has exclusively received inspection ratings of good and excellent since 2000. This was the first failed inspection of any permitted part of the store.
What the inspector saw: The inspector observed more than five priority violations, including an employee rinsing a tomato in a hand sink, use of improper gloves, deli slicers encrusted with food debris, inadequate cooling of prepared foods, foods stored above established cold holding temperatures and improper expiration date labeling of lunch meats.
Follow-up: A follow-up had not been conducted by deadline.
Response: Company spokeswoman Pam Giannonatti said Fry’s sent a food safety specialist to the store to speak with the entire deli team and assigned a new manager to the deli. Additionally, a number of employees will be taking the county’s food safety class. Giannonatti expects the deli to pass the follow-up inspection. “The health and safety of our customer is our top priority,” she added.
- Murphy Woodhouse Arizona Daily Star
In May
History: Since 2014, this location has received one good and one needs improvement inspection rating. This was its first failed inspection.
What the inspector saw: The inspector noted at least five priority violations, including an employee handling ready-to-eat tortillas with their bare hands, a hand sink filled with utensils, foods stored outside of established temperatures and improper date marking.
Follow-up: The restaurant passed a follow-up on May 15.
Response: In a written response, general manager Francisco Carrasco said “we are happy to assure our customers that the Guadalajara Grill proudly maintains the highest level of trained staff and procedures in industry,” adding later: “We demonstrate that we go above and beyond the requirements for the benefit of strengthening our good reputation and trust of our valued family of loyal, happy customers.”
- Murphy Woodhouse Arizona Daily Star
In May
History: Since 2015, the restaurant has received only ratings of good and excellent. This was its first failed inspection.
What the inspector saw: Only a single violation was observed, but it was one that had been noted in at least three previous inspections, earning the restaurant a failing probationary rating. The violation stemmed from a make-unit cooler not keeping foods at established cold-holding temperatures.
Follow-up: A follow-up inspection had not occurred by deadline.
Response: Company spokesman Matt Clauser said the make-unit had been replaced and expects the restaurant to pass a follow-up inspection scheduled for Monday.
- Murphy Woodhouse Arizona Daily Star
In May
History: Since 2013, the restaurant has largely received inspection ratings of good and excellent, though they failed a previous inspection in 2014.
What the inspector saw: On May 4, the inspector observed four priority violations, earning the restaurant a needs improvement rating. Those included a dishwasher that tested negative for sanitizing solution, improper cooling of prepared food, and food stored without proper date marking. The inspector also observed fruit flies near produce.
Follow-up: The restaurant failed a follow-up inspection before passing on May 18.
Response: A message left seeking comment was not returned by deadline.
- Murphy Woodhouse Arizona Daily Star
In May
History: Since 2014, this location has largely received inspection ratings of good, though it did get a needs improvement rating in 2016 and failed a follow-up.
What the inspector saw: The inspector observed three priority violations, below the normal threshold for a failing probationary rating. However, because the restaurant has had cold holding violations in three of the last five inspections, it received a failing probationary rating.
The other violations included a blocked hand sink and an employee washing their hands in a prep sink.
Follow-up: The restaurant passed a May 30 follow-up.
Response: Manager Kimberly Rifici said the reach-in cooler that was the source of the cold holding violations was replaced, and a staff meeting was held to address the other issues. “We are very passionate about serving our community,” she added.
- Murphy Woodhouse Arizona Daily Star
In May
History: Since the mid-2000s, the restaurant has exclusively received inspection ratings of good and excellent. This was its first failed inspection.
What the inspector saw: The inspector observed five priority violations, including two blocked hand washing sinks, a dishwasher without measurable levels of sanitizer, foods stored above established temperatures, food held beyond discard dates and time-control rice not being discarded quickly enough.
Follow-up: The restaurant passed a June 6 follow-up.
Response: A message left seeking comment was not returned by deadline.
- Murphy Woodhouse Arizona Daily Star
In May
History: Since the mid-2000s, the store has exclusively received inspection ratings of good and excellent.
What the inspector saw: The inspector observed four priority violations on May 19, earning the shop a needs improvement rating. Those violations included holding prepared foods below established hot holding temperatures, improper labeling of chemical bottles and issues with a sink.
Follow-up: The tortilleria failed a May 30 follow-up.
Response: Owner Fernando Jimenez said that all of the remaining issues have been resolved, and he expected to pass a follow-up inspection planned for Friday.
- Murphy Woodhouse Arizona Daily Star
4,836 - Food service licenses in Pima County
648 - Excellent and good inspections
46 - Needs improvement inspections
14 - Probationary and failed inspections
Source: Pima County Health Department
- Murphy Woodhouse Arizona Daily Star
In April
History: Since 2011, the restaurant has exclusively received inspection ratings of good and excellent. This was its first failed inspection.
What the inspector saw: The inspector observed four priority violations, short of the five that are normally required for a failing probationary rating. However, because the restaurant had similar issues with the cold-holding of food in several recent inspections, it got a probationary rating for a “pattern of non-compliance.” Beyond food temperature issues, the inspector also observed an employee wash a knife without sanitizing it and another set a personal drink near a prep table.
Follow-up: The restaurant passed an April 14 follow-up inspection.
Response: Owner Dean Griffith said adjustments were made to the restaurant’s coolers, and that the other issues have been addressed. “Everything that was noted has been corrected and will stay corrected,” he said.
- Murphy Woodhouse Arizona Daily Star
In April
History: Since the early 2000s, the restaurant has largely received inspection ratings of good and excellent, but had two needs improvement inspections. This was its first failed inspection.
What the inspector saw: The inspector found eight priority violations, including an employee cracking an egg and then handling other items without changing gloves or washing their hands, incomplete records of sushi fish freezing practices, a bag of raw chicken in the same container as water chestnuts and dinner menus without mandated food safety warnings.
Follow-up: The restaurant passed a follow-up inspection on April 14.
Response: A message seeking comment was not returned by deadline.
- Murphy Woodhouse Arizona Daily Star
In April
History: Since 2015, the food truck has received three excellent inspection ratings. This was its first failed inspection.
What the inspector saw: It was not clear how many priority violations the inspector found, but among them was a self-serve condiment stand not keeping items cool enough and clean utensils stored improperly.
Follow-up: The food truck passed an April 24 follow-up.
Response: A message seeking comment was not returned by deadline.
- Murphy Woodhouse Arizona Daily Star
In April
History: Since the early 2000s, the location has largely received inspection ratings of good and excellent, though it did receive two needs improvement inspections. This was its first failed inspection.
What the inspector saw: The inspector found 11 priority violations, earning El Herradero a failing probationary rating. The violations included inadequate hand washing practices, a hand sink blocked by items stored in it, cheese from Mexico and homemade carne seca being sold, unsafe storage of raw meats, insufficient sanitizing of utensils, and foods stored above mandated temperatures.
Follow-up: The butcher and grocery store failed a follow-up inspection on April 20 and another had not been conducted by deadline.
Response: Owner Emilio Murrieta said that all of the problems have been corrected and he expects to pass the next inspection.
- Murphy Woodhouse Arizona Daily Star
In April
History: Since 2000, the restaurant has almost exclusively received inspection ratings of good and excellent, though it failed an inspection in 2010 and got a needs improvement in 2002.
What the inspector saw: The inspector observed seven priority violations, including an employee washing their hands with gloves on, another handling raw chicken and then handling clean dishes without washing their hands, no hot water in the only hand sink, and meat thawed in a three-compartment cleaning sink without running water.
Follow-up: The restaurant passed an April 14 follow-up inspection.
Response: Owner Ann Yohn said that since the inspection a number of her employees have taken the county’s food safety class and that all of the “problems have been corrected.”
- Murphy Woodhouse Arizona Daily Star
In April
History: Since 2000, Pueblo High School has almost exclusively received inspection ratings of good and excellent. It had one needs improvement inspection in 2006. This was its first failed inspection.
What the inspector saw: The inspector observed five priority violations, the minimum for a failing probationary rating. Those included a kitchen hand sink with no hot water and another without paper towels or soap, insufficiently hot dishwasher water and inadequate date marking on multiple items.
Follow-up: The high school passed an April 17 follow-up.
Response: Shirley Sokol, Tucson Unified School District’s food services director, said some of the issues had to do with employees getting accustomed to changes made to the food code last year, and the rest have been resolved.
“Food safety and sanitation is very important to us, so we keep a good eye on that,” she said. “We’re doing a lot of training with our staff on the new food code and we’ll continue to make sure that they’re taking the new steps necessary.”
- Murphy Woodhouse Arizona Daily Star
In April
History: Since 2009, the Circle K location has exclusively received inspection ratings of good and excellent. This was its first failed inspection.
What the inspector saw: The inspector noted nine priority violations, including a hand washing sink without paper towels, chemicals stored above clean utensils, prepared hamburger patties and other meats stored below safe temperatures, other food stored above safe temperatures, and opened ice cream cones in a drawer accessible to customers.
Follow-up: The convenience store passed an April 14 follow-up inspection.
Response: “Circle K takes immediate corrective action when receiving a failed inspection notice. All items noted on the … inspection … have been addressed with store employees and our facilities department,” company spokeswoman Donna Humphrey wrote in an email.
- Murphy Woodhouse Arizona Daily Star
In April
History: Since 2004, the restaurant has largely received inspection ratings of good and excellent. However, it failed one other inspection in 2006.
What the inspector saw: The inspector saw six priority violations, including an employee removing gloves but not washing their hands after handling raw fish and eggs before handling onion, a mixer encrusted with food debris, and beans and salsa stored above safe temperatures.
Follow-up: The restaurant passed a follow-up inspection on April 17.
Response: A message seeking comment was not returned by deadline.
- Murphy Woodhouse Arizona Daily Star
In April
History: Since 2006, the Subway location has exclusively received inspection ratings of good and excellent. This was its first failed inspection.
What the inspector saw: The inspector observed five priority violations, including employees switching between tasks without washing hands, numerous food containers encrusted with food debris and five containers of expired pastrami and salami.
Follow-up: The restaurant passed a follow-up inspection on April 24.
Response: Nick Edgar, Subway’s area director, said that all of the issues were addressed and a number of employees have since received food safety certification.
“When they came back to do follow-up , we aced it, so no problems at that location anymore,” he added.
- Murphy Woodhouse Arizona Daily Star
In April
History: Since 2012, this McDonald’s location has only received inspection ratings of good and excellent. This was its first failed inspection.
What the inspector saw: The inspector found six priority violations, including an employee removing gloves after handling raw chicken but not washing their hands before handling utensils, utensils not being adequately sanitized, foods stored above safe temperatures, and chemical cleaner stored above utensils.
Follow-up: The restaurant passed a follow-up inspection on April 14.
Response: A message seeking comment was not returned by deadline.
- Murphy Woodhouse Arizona Daily Star
In April
History: This was the restaurant’s first regular inspection.
What the inspector saw: The inspector noted four priority violations, earning the deli a needs improvement rating. Those included an employee switching between tasks without washing their hands, another handle a ready-to-eat bagel with their bare hands, a slicer stored as clean with food debris and a deli case not keeping food sufficiently cool. During the April 21 follow-up, the deli case was still not functioning properly, earning AKA the failed inspection.
Follow-up: The deli passed the next follow-up on April 28.
Response: Owner Sally Kane said the deli case was recalibrated and now functions correctly. She also spoke with staff about the other issues.
- Murphy Woodhouse Arizona Daily Star
In April
History: Since 2015, the restaurant has exclusively received inspection ratings of good. This was its first fail.
What the inspector saw: The inspector noted eight priority violations, including an employee handling ready-to-eat food with their bare hands, tea bags stored under sink plumbing, some foods stored above mandated temperatures, foods stored without date of preparations marks, impermissible “bottles of pesticide throughout the establishment,” and cups stored under a sewer line.
Follow-up: A follow-up inspection had not occurred by deadline.
Response: A message seeking comment was not returned by deadline.
- Murphy Woodhouse Arizona Daily Star
In April
History: This was the restaurant’s first regular inspection.
What the inspector saw: The inspector noted 10 priority violations, including an employee drinking a beverage “throughout the kitchen,” a hand sink blocked by items stored in it, an employee failing to sanitize dishes, a whole chicken kept below safe temperatures, cleaning and chemicals stored near canned goods.
Follow-up: The restaurant passed a follow-up inspection on April 28.
Response: A message seeking comment was not returned by deadline.
- Murphy Woodhouse Arizona Daily Star
In April
History: Since 2012, the restaurant has exclusively received inspection ratings of good and excellent. This was its first failed inspection.
What the inspector saw: The inspector observed eight priority violations, including employees not washing their hands due to a sink being out of order, rice being stored in a detergent container, numerous utensils and food-contact surfaces “encrusted with food debris.” The restaurant was closed after the inspection due to the non-functioning hand sink, but reopened the next day.
Follow-up: Kimchi Time failed a follow-up on April 24 and another had not been conducted by press time.
Response: A message seeking comment was not returned by deadline.
- Murphy Woodhouse Arizona Daily Star
4,836 - Food service licenses in Pima County
521 - Excellent and good inspections
15 - Needs improvement inspections
14 - Probationary and failed inspections
Source: Pima County Health Department
- 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
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