These Merced food businesses earned lowest possible ratings in December health inspections
Five restaurant and markets in Merced County piled up enough violations in December health inspections to draw the lowest possible ratings from the county’s Environmental Health Division. That’s almost one out of every 10 food businesses inspected during the month.
Inspections were conducted at 52 restaurants, retail markets and other food-selling establishments. Of those, five racked up the most violation points on the county’s scale to receive “unsatisfactory” ratings from inspectors for problems ranging from equipment that failed to keep hot foods hot enough or cold foods cold enough, to improper washing and sanitizing of equipment and utensils, to selling infant formula or baby food after the labeled “use by” date.
Three of the worst offenders were in Los Banos, along with one in Merced and one in Winton.
Merced County’s ratings are based on how many violation points a business gets in an inspection visit. Businesses that accumulate 14 or more points receive the “unsatisfactory” rating. A “satisfactory” rating is given to businesses that receive seven to 13 violation points, while businesses that score fewer than six violation points receive a “good” rating.
The highest number of points from December inspections was at La Morenita Tortilleria and Meat Market on H Street in Los Banos. A total of 43 points were tallied for a range of violations during a Dec. 8 inspection. The most serious violations involved failing to keep hot foods above 135 degrees F and cold foods below 41 degrees; selling baby food or infant formula after the “use by” date on the product label – a violation that is punishable by a $10-per-item fine for each day that a product is on the shelf for sale after the expiration date; and employees cooking raw meat on a plancha and handling it for serving without changing gloves or washing their hands to avoid cross-contamination.
The other businesses receiving unsatisfactory ratings in December were:
Mr. Taco on West Pacheco Boulevard in Los Banos, with 28 violation points in a Dec. 8 inspection for a water heater that fell 25 degrees short of the required 120 degrees; employees seen washing their hands without using soap; and not enough chemical sanitizer for washing equipment and utensils.
La Dona Cocina on North Winton Way in Winton, with 19 violation points in a Dec. 1 visit for inadequate washing and sanitizing of equipment and utensils by employees, and beans that were being held at a temperature of 119 degrees, compared to the 135 degrees required.
Domino’s Pizza on East Pacheco Boulevard in Los Banos, with 18 violation points in a Dec. 7 inspection for having cornstarch bins with two scoops fully buried in the cornstarch, a potential source of contamination; and having a computer keyboard covered in food debris left on the prep area for the pizza topping bar. December was the second consecutive month in which the restaurant received an unsatisfactory rating, including several repeat violations from a Nov. 14 inspection.
Adel’s Mini Mart on South Highway 59 in Merced, with 17 points in a Dec. 1 inspection for a repeat violation of not having separate hand-washing and dishwashing sinks and a lack of hot running water at an outdoor restroom; and accumulations of dirt, dust, mold and food debris in various parts of the facility including storage cabinets under a microwave and cappuccino machine, inside a freezer containing bagged ice and inside an ice-making machine, and inside the walk-in refrigerator.
Thirteen businesses received “satisfactory” ratings from their inspections, 34 earned “good” ratings – including 15 that had no violation points assigned by inspectors.
Merced County’s Environmental Health Division maintains a database of restaurant and food inspections online for public viewing at its web page, www.countyofmerced.com/597/Environmental-Health; click the “Food Inspections” tab along the left side of the page.
