Pima County health inspections: 14 food service sites failed in December
- Carol Ann Alaimo
Arizona Daily Star
Carol Ann Alaimo
Reporter
- Updated
Fourteen food service establishments failed Pima County Health Department inspections in December. Thirteen passed follow-up inspections and one is awaiting re-inspection.
Here's what you need to know:
O’Malleys on Fourth
UpdatedHistory: Good and excellent ratings for several years but was placed on probation Nov. 27 and failed an initial re-inspection on Dec. 10.
What the inspector saw: Potato salad, cooked chicken, lettuce and sour cream stored at unsafe temperatures; heavy buildup of grease and debris on cooking equipment; heavy black buildup inside bulk ice machine; employee cut up fruit with bare hands; no food thermometer; chemical spray bottles had no labels.
Follow up: Passed re-inspection on Dec. 21.
Comments: A message seeking comment was not returned by deadline.
Dickman’s Meat & Deli
UpdatedHistory: Mainly good and passing ratings in recent years but was placed on probation Dec. 14.
What the inspector saw: Soup, roast beef and cheese stored at unsafe temperatures; slicer and utensils stored as clean had food residue; cutting boards not sanitized as often as required; hose used to rinse dishes had no backflow protection to prevent sewer backup; numerous foods stored on floor; the eatery was cooking on hot plates without proper ventilation and was told to cease and desist; manager not certified in food protection management.
Follow-up: Passed re-inspection on Jan. 3.
Comments: A message seeking comment was not returned by deadline.
Dove M Bistro Chinese Cuisine
UpdatedHistory: Excellent ratings in 2017 and most of 2018 but received a needs improvement rating Dec. 11 and failed an initial follow-up inspection Dec. 21.
What the inspector saw: Rice, noodles and cooked chicken stored at unsafe temperatures due to improper cooling procedures; numerous foods that should have been refrigerated were stored on counter at room temperature; manager not certified in food protection management.
Follow up: Passed a second follow-up inspection on Jan. 2.
Comments: Declined to comment.
Elliott’s On Congress
UpdatedHistory: Good and excellent ratings for several years but was placed on probation Dec. 5.
What the inspector saw: Coleslaw, cut tomatoes and raw burgers and sliders were stored at unsafe temperatures — a problem identified twice before by inspectors; clean dishes stored on dirty shelving; can of insect spray was stored in cooking area; dirty utensils stored in handwashing sink.
Follow-up: Passed re-inspection on Dec. 17.
Comments: Owner Billy Elliott said food temperature issues were caused by a broken refrigerator. "The repair was made and everything is in excellent condition now. All other issues were remedied on the spot," he said.
Garrett’s Family Steakhouse
UpdatedHistory: Good and excellent ratings until late 2017. Since then, four of seven health inspections had negative findings, including a needs improvement rating Dec. 4 and a failed initial re-inspection Dec. 5.
What the inspector saw: Numerous foods stored at unsafe temperatures including pastrami, brisket, macaroni and cheese, mayonnaise and ranch and blue cheese dressings; the restaurant was given 24 hours to fix the problem but did not do so.
Follow up: Passed second re-inspection Dec. 14.
Comments: Could not be reached for comment. Two calls were made during business hours but no one answered the phone and there was no voicemail system.
Hogie House
UpdatedHistory: A mix of positive and negative ratings since 2016. Most recently, received a needs improvement rating Dec. 19 followed by a failed re-inspection Dec. 31.
What the inspector saw: No handwashing sink in food preparation area; cooked meatballs stored without use-by date; manager not certified in food protection management.
Follow up: Passed a second follow-up inspection Jan. 10.
Comments: A message seeking comment was not returned by deadline.
KFC
UpdatedHistory: Good or excellent ratings until mid-2018. Since then, four out of five inspections had negative results. Most recently, the eatery was placed on probation Dec. 20.
What the inspector saw: Kitchen equipment stored as clean had food and grease residue — evidence of a "pattern of noncompliance" since inspectors noted the same problem twice before; greasy, dirty floors "throughout the facility;" sink leaking water onto floor; cardboard boxes of food stored on floor with pooling water; white residue on soda nozzles.
Follow-up: Failed re-inspection on Jan. 3. Date of next re-inspection was not immediately available.
Comments: Could not be reached for comment. Two calls were made during business hours, but no one answered the phone and there was no voicemail system.
La Cima Market
UpdatedHistory: Positive ratings for several years but was placed on probation Dec. 20.
What the inspector saw: Salsa, carne asada, cooked pork and raw beef stored at unsafe temperatures; hand-washing sink blocked and inaccessible; meat slicer encrusted with "decayed protein residue;" no food thermometer; some foods had no use-by dates.
Follow-up: Passed a follow-up inspection Jan. 2.
Comments: Owner Carlos Stahlkopff said he purchased a new refrigerator and took quick action to correct problems.
La Parilla Suiza 2 LLC
UpdatedHistory: Good ratings for several years but was placed on probation Dec. 17.
What the inspector saw: Numerous foods stored at unsafe temperatures including chicken, chimichangas, taquitos, and guacamole; cooked beef stored with no use-by date; wiping cloths were not sanitized; refrigerator shelving had "food debris and rust."
Follow up: Passed re-inspection on Dec. 27.
Comments: Could not be reached for comment. Two calls were made during business hours but no one answered the phone and there was no voicemail system.
Libby’s Egg Connection
UpdatedHistory: Good and excellent inspection results for several years until early 2018. Since then, three of five inspections have had negative results, including a Dec. 4 needs improvement rating and a failed re-inspection on Dec. 14.
What the inspector saw: Eggs and cooked potatoes were stored at room temperature; cooked foods were improperly cooled; cook repeatedly handled plates of prepared food after cracking raw eggs without washing hands and changing gloves.
Follow up: Passed a second re-inspection on Dec. 27.
Comments: Co-owner Libby Oniszko said kitchen staff have received additional training. "The health and safety of our customers is our top priority," she said.
New China Super Buffet
UpdatedHistory: The site has failed eight of 16 health inspections since 2016. Most recently, it was placed on probation Dec. 11 after a diner filed a health department complaint about falling ill after eating seaweed salad with an "acidy mold" taste.
What the inspector saw: Salmon used for sushi was not cold-treated to destroy parasites; cook picked up a utensil from floor then kept cooking without washing hands or changing gloves; seafood thawing in stagnant water; fly traps hanging over food preparation area; floors throughout facility had "food residue and grease build-up;" clean utensils stored in dirty bins; dishes stored as clean had grease residue; hand-washing sink blocked and inaccessible.
Follow-up: Passed re-inspection Dec. 21.
Comments: Declined to comment.
Nico’s Taco Shop
UpdatedHistory: Good and passing ratings since mid-2017, but the site was placed on probation Dec. 15 and failed initial re-inspection on Dec. 27.
What the inspector saw: Beans, cooked chicken and cooked chorizo stored at unsafe temperatures; both handwashing sinks were blocked and inaccessible; cutting board was not properly sanitized; person in charge lacked basic knowledge of food safety practices; manager not certified in food protection management.
Follow up: Passed a second follow-up inspection on Jan. 7.
Comments: A message seeking comment was not returned by deadline.
Quick Stop
UpdatedHistory: Mainly good and excellent ratings for several years, but was placed on probation Dec. 5.
What the inspector saw: "Excessive encrusted residue" on kitchen utensils and inside microwave despite two previous warnings; employee was eating in food preparation area, creating contamination risk; manager not certified in food protection management.
Follow-up: Passed re-inspection Dec.12.
Comments: Declined to comment.
Tina’s Country Market LLC
UpdatedHistory: Good and excellent ratings for several years until a Dec. 14 needs improvement rating followed by a failed re-inspection on Dec. 27.
What the inspector saw: No food thermometer; no test strips for sanitizing solution; manager not certified in food protection management despite three previous warnings to obtain certification.
Follow-up: Passed a second re-inspection Jan. 9.
Comments: Assistant manager Leticia Antonio described the problems as relatively minor and said they have been resolved.
Carol Ann Alaimo
Reporter
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