Seven Tucson eateries failed health inspections in May; two also failed reinspections. Hereโs what you need to know:
Jasonโs Mexican Food
4230 N. Oracle Road
- History: Since 2014, the restaurant has received mostly โgoodโ ratings, but had two โpassesโ in October 2014.
- What the inspector saw: The restaurant received a โprobationaryโ rating after seven critical violations were found in a May 13 inspection. Those violations included hot dogs being kept below and salsa being kept above standard temperatures, poor hand-washing practices, carne asada and other meat kept without preparation dates, and the facility not having a food thermometer. At a failed follow-up inspection, some of the same issues were again observed and no staff members had signed up as required for a food safety class.
- Follow-up: Failed two subsequent inspections, on May 23 and June 2.
- Response: Owner or manager did not respond to calls for comment.
La Indita Cafe
622 N. Fourth Ave.
- History: Failed a number of inspections between 2000 and 2010, but has received mostly โgoodโ or โexcellentโ ratings since.
- What the inspector saw: The restaurant got a โprobationaryโ rating in April for five critical violations, including inadequate refrigeration and improper food storage practices. It failed its first follow-up inspection on May 6, when four similar violations were found.
- Follow-up: Passed re-inspection on May 16.
- Response: Owner or manager did not respond to calls for comment.
Quik Mart No. 20
8494 E. Speedway
- History: The location has received mostly โgoodโ and โexcellentโ ratings since 2000.
- What the inspector saw: The store received a โneeds improvementโ rating on May 20 based in part on inadequate cleaning of hot dog tongs and the absence of a dedicated hand sink. On a May 31 follow-up, the store had addressed two of three violations, but had yet to install a sink.
- Follow-up: The location failed a May 31 reinspection.
- Response: A company representative could not be reached for comment.
Grantstone Supermarket
8 W. Grant Road
- History: The grocery store last failed an inspection in August 2015, but has had mostly โgoodโ ratings since 2001.
- What the inspector saw: Ten critical violations in a May 25 inspection, many of which were in the meat department. There the inspector saw knives and other equipment encrusted with meat, dead crayfish on the floor, no hand-washing sink, and blood dripping from packages of meat. โDue to the filthy state of the meat department, it is clear that the operator lacks food safety knowledge,โ the inspector wrote. The store was given a โprobationaryโ rating.
- Follow-up: Passed June 6.
- Response: โThat all was taken care of. Everything is OK,โ manager Mary Bonillas said of the violations found in May. โThe employees also know that they have to keep up.โ
La Fresita Restaurant
4550 S. Palo Verde Road
- History: This location has had just one other inspection, in January, when it received a โgoodโ rating.
- What the inspector saw: During a May 31 inspection, the inspector saw food being kept at temperatures above and below established guidelines, deli meat stored in a pan with โraw, bloody beef,โ a microwave and utensils covered in food debris, and foods without proper discard dates or expiration dates. All five of the critical violations were corrected on site during the inspection, according to a county report.
- Follow-up: None completed yet, though a manager said one had been scheduled for June 10.
- Response: โThey were corrected,โ manager Josie Bolanos said of the violations.
O Sushi
4689 E. Speedway
- History: This restaurant has had four inspections since April and the May 20 visit was its only failed inspection.
- What the inspector saw: During the May 20 visit, the inspector found six critical violations, including improper employee hand-washing practices, an inadequately stocked kitchen hand-washing station, employees keeping personal drinks close to food preparation, and improper food storage practices for eggs and sushi salmon. An employee was also seen dumping mop water behind the building. The restaurant was given a โprobationaryโ rating.
- Follow-up: Passed a May 31 reinspection.
- Response: Insuk Park, the restaurantโs owner, said, โEverything passed on the 31st โฆ We fixed it.โ
Ta Raspado
5012 S. 12th Ave.
- History: Between August 2012 and April 2015, the restaurant received only โgoodโ and โexcellentโ ratings. Since then it has received a โneeds improvementโ and the most recent โprobationaryโ rating.
- What the inspector saw: During a May 17 visit, the inspector found six critical violations, including an employee handling a garbage can and not washing hands before returning to work, dirty utensils, utensils being cleaned but not sanitized, improperly labeled meat, and no person in charge on site during the inspection.
- Follow-up: The restaurant passed a May 31 follow-up inspection.
- Response: Attempts to reach the restaurant were unsuccessful.
