Cockroaches, mouse droppings and ‘meat bits’: See Sacramento County restaurant inspections

Sacramento County health inspectors shut down three local businesses after discovering live German cockroaches, mouse droppings and other violations.

In addition, two Elk Grove restaurants were given yellow placards due to violations ranging from an expired health permit to improper food holding temperatures.

A yellow placard signals two or more major violations, according to the Sacramento County Food Inspection Guide. These are typically corrected or mitigated during the inspection.

A red placard signals “imminent danger to public health and safety” and suspends the health permit until violations are corrected. This could include, but is not limited to, major vermin contamination.

Green means a restaurant passed the inspection.

The county conducts roughly 14,000 inspections a year, and 97% of all restaurants pass their inspections, Ken Casparis, a spokesman, previously told The Bee. About 1% of inspections result in a closure.

Last week, Court Liquor was closed but re opened on Dec. 22.

Here are the food facility inspections for Dec. 21 through Wednesday, as of noon Thursday:

If an inspection listed below needs clarification, business owners can email Jacqueline Pinedo at jpinedo@sacbee.com. The Bee will publish weekly updates on health inspections across Sacramento County.

Sacramento liquor store closed due to roaches, expired permits

Town and Country Catering and Banquet, 1407 Howe Ave in Sacramento, had 24 violations on Tuesday, resulting in the closure of the business.

A tray of fish and several batches of raw chicken were observed outside of proper holding temperatures during the time of inspection.

A total of 39 live German cockroaches were seen throughout the restaurant, according to the Tuesday inspection report, including four adult roaches with attached eggs at the rice cooker machine. Mice droppings were found on food preparations tables where the rice cooker is in operation.

Open drinks were also seen on the prep table during the inspection. Several bags of rice, flour and prepackaged foods were observed on the dry storage room.

Faisal Halal Market and Restaurant, 7924 Fruitridge Road in Sacramento, had eight violations on Tuesday. Those resulted in the restaurant’s closure.

The paper towel dispenser was broken at the time of inspection and there were no available paper towels, according to the report.

The meat band saw had “very old, grey-colored meat bits,” the Tuesday inspection report said. Two dead German cockroaches were observed on a glue traps during the inspection.

In addition, the ventilation hood had “excessive oil and grease buildup along surrounding surfaces and along baffle filters,” according to the inspection report.

Fiesta Nutrition, 5031 Stockton Blvd in Sacramento, had three violations on Dec. 22 which resulted in the restaurant’s closure.

Several dead adult German cockroaches and nymphs were found under the prep table, while inspectors found more nymphs behind and under the front display cooler. The report did not specify exactly how many roaches were found in total, but the report did state that “due to evidence of a vermin infestation,” the facility would close.

Fiesta Nutrition had a re inspection on Tuesday but did not pass due to more adult roaches being found.

The Sacramento Bee reached out to the owners of all three businesses for comment, but they had not responded as of Friday morning.

Sacramento County restaurants get yellow placard violations

The following Sacramento County restaurants had violations the week of Dec. 21 through Dec. 27, resulting in a conditional pass.

Only the dates of violations are listed. Most restaurants fully pass reinspection within 72 hours. The reports are linked. For updates on individual restaurants, you can search the EMD website here.

Quan Nem Ninh Hoa, 8469 Elk Grove Blvd. in Elk Grove, had 10 violations on Wednesday.

Spring roll sauce was seen inside a soup warmer at inappropriate heating temperatures, according to the Wednesday inspection report. An employee was seen washing dirty dishes then proceeding to work on food preparation, the report said. Inspectors observed food boxes on the floor inside of a walk-in-freezer, and the restaurant’s health permit was expired.

Wilton Chevron, 8995 Grant Line Road in Elk Grove, had four violations on Wednesday.

During the inspection, seven burritos and one pancake sandwich “had past the discard time of four hours” and were “unfit for human consumption,” according to the inspection report. A self-service ice chute had “old residue buildup,” according to the Wednesday inspection report.

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