Mouse droppings, dirty ice machines among findings from Greene County food inspections

One Springfield-Greene County Health Department food inspection this week found mouse droppings in the storage area of a campus Starbucks in Springfield, while other inspections identified dirty ice machines in two businesses that shared the same building.

McAlister's Deli and Mr. Goodcents Subs & Pastas, both at 2445 N. Kansas Expressway, had non-priority violations that included ice machines not being clean.

Food inspections take place one to three times a year, depending on the type of food served, the population served, difficulty of food preparation and past history. Restaurants preparing food from raw ingredients are inspected more often "than convenience stores that serve only non-potentially hazardous foods, such as popcorn and soda," according to the Springfield-Greene County Health Department.

Issues found during inspection fall into either priority or non-priority violations. Priority violations impact the safety of the food, such as cross contamination between raw and ready-to-eat food, improper food temperature and poor personal hygiene and employee health. Multiple priority violations can lead to an establishment being shut down. Non-priority violations alone do not directly affect food safety, such as dirty floors, sticky tabletops or outside trash cans not being covered.

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Here are more of the food inspections from this past week:

Applebee's Neighborhood Bar & Grill, 1855 E. Primrose St., Springfield. Dec. 9 routine inspection – Result: active. One priority violation: Observed a knife being stored unclean on magnetic strip holder. Knife pulled from service to be properly cleaned. No non-priority violations.

Arris' Pizza - Republic, 738 E. US Highway 60 East, Republic. Dec. 8 re-inspection – Result: active. Priority items corrected. All foods properly dated with discard date and all foods within discard date. No violations observed at the time of inspection.

Braum's Ice Cream No. 274, 604 N. Glenstone Ave., Springfield. Dec. 12 routine inspection – Result: active. No violations observed at the time of inspection.

Breadsmith, 3305 S. Campbell Ave., Springfield. Dec. 8 routine inspection – Result: active. No violations observed at the time of inspection.

Casey's General Store No. 2613, 410 S. Miller Road, Willard. Dec. 14 routine inspection – Result: active. No violations observed at the time of inspection.

Classic Rock Coffee Republic, 1230 E. US Highway 60 East, Republic. Dec. 8 routine inspection – Result: active. Discussed proper storage of used mops between uses. No violations observed at the time of inspection.

El Charro Mexican Restaurant, 1668 E. US Highway 60 East, Republic. Dec. 12 routine inspection – Result: permitted with re-inspection. Discussed fixing missing floor tiles, missing and loose coving, and broken door handles on employee restroom and walk-in cooler door. Three priority violations: Observed tamales held at temperatures below 135 degrees Fahrenheit, reheated to proper temperature and water added to steam table; observed sliced tomatoes held at temperatures below 41 degrees; observed several ready-to-eat foods not marked with discard date. One non-priority violation: Observed no hair or beard restraint on cook.

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El Puente Mexican Restaurant, 1111 E. Republic St., Springfield. Dec. 13 routine inspection – Result: active. No priority violations. One non-priority violation: Observed open employee drink on food preparation table.

Enterprise Park Lanes, 1625 S. Enterprise Ave., Springfield. Dec. 9 routine inspection – Result: active. No violations observed at the time of inspection.

Fieldhouse Grille, 2235 W. Kingsley St., Springfield. Dec. 8 routine inspection – Result: active. No priority violations. Two non-priority violation: Observed dish washer leaking, observed no test strips available for sanitizer.

Glendale High School, 2727 S. Ingram Mill Road, Springfield. Dec. 14 routine inspection – Result: active. No violations observed at the time of inspection.

Golden Corral, 2734 N. Kansas Expressway, Springfield. Dec. 12 complaint inspection – Result: active. No violations observed at the time of inspection.

Heady Bar-B-Que Co., 573 E. Elm St., Republic. Dec. 8 re-inspection – Result: active. Queso still hot holding below 135 degrees on steam table. All other foods held at proper temperature. No violations observed at the time of inspection.

Highland Springs Country Club, 5400 S. Highland Springs Blvd., Springfield. Dec. 8 routine inspection – Result: active. No priority violations. One non-priority violation: Observed open employee drink in dish machine area. Employee drinks are required to have a lid and straw.

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Hold Fast Brewing, 235 N. Kimbrough Ave., Springfield. Dec. 9 routine inspection – Result: active. No violations. Discussed labeling spray bottles. No violations observed at the time of inspection.

Hy-Vee - Bakery/Retail, 1720 W. Battlefield Road, Springfield. Dec. 8 routine inspection – Result: active. No priority violations. One non-priority violation: Observed build up of flour, etc., baking residue on outsides of bulk storage bins and other equipment such as shelving and scales. Clean as often as necessary to prevent build up.

Kum & Go No. 1475, 3415 S. National Ave., Springfield. Dec. 12 routine inspection – Result: active. No violations observed at the time of inspection.

Kum & Go No. 468, 609 E. Elm St., Springfield. Dec. 13 re-inspection – Result: permitted with re-inspection. On site for re-inspection. While on site observed open yogurt/burrito cooler not holding 41 degrees or below in bottom portion of unit. Re-inspection required. One priority violation: Observed in open yogurt/burrito cooler: hot dogs at 46 degrees, hot dogs at 44 degrees, and air temperature between 43 and 46 degrees. Employee said hot dogs had been in unit all day and voluntarily discarded. Temperature on log said 36 degrees from this morning. Air in unit fluctuating between 43 and 46 degrees. Discussed not stocking bottom of unit until holding 41 degrees or below. Employee moved all other items to higher shelves that were holding 41 degrees or below. Discussed plastic curtains or moving items to higher shelves permanently. Person in charge stated they will put in another ticket to have it fixed. No non-priority violations.

Kum & Go No. 483, 2404 E. Sunshine St., Springfield. Dec. 13 routine inspection – Result: active. No violations observed at the time of inspection.

Kum & Go No. 489, 4020 Battlefield Road, Springfield. Dec. 13 routine inspection – Result: active. No violations observed at the time of inspection.

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Kum & Go No. 567, 2904 E. Sunshine St., Springfield. Dec. 13 routine inspection – Result: active. No violations observed at the time of inspection.

McAlister's Deli, 2445 N. Kansas Expressway, Springfield. Dec. 8 routine inspection – Result: active. Facility had resolved issue of wood-eating insects around one ice bin. No priority violations. Four non-priority violations: Observed back paper towel dispenser was not operational and sign up (Do not Use); observed inside of one ice bin and ice machine were not clean; observed kitchen floor is badly pitted and trim around one ice bin has been removed; observed the floor under front ice bin and under some equipment in food prep and dish washing areas were not clean.

Mr. Goodcents Subs & Pastas, 2445 N. Kansas Expressway, Springfield. Dec. 13 routine inspection – Result: permitted with re-inspection. A re-inspection will be made on or after 12-19-2022. One priority violation: Observed wiping cloths being stored in a sanitizing solution of less than 100 ppm quaternary ammonia. Four non-priority violations: Observed the hot water faucet at front hand sink was shut off, due to a leak, and the drain line was disconnected from back hand sink. These must be corrected by Dec. 19 re-inspection. Observed moderate buildup on floor under some equipment and by two-vat sink in back area; observed the inside of ice machine was not clean; observed an open box of disposable food containers were being stored on floor by front hand sink.

OTC Marketplace Cafe, 1001 E. Chestnut Expressway, Springfield. Dec. 9 routine inspection – Result: permitted with re-inspection. One priority violation: Observed cold line cooler not cold holding at or below 41 degrees (ambient temp 51 degrees). All food items were going to be placed in an ice bath and a work order placed for the cooler to be fixed. No non-priority violations.

OTC Marketplace Cafe, 1001 E. Chestnut Expressway, Springfield. Dec. 13 re-inspection – Result: active. Cold line cooler had been fixed prior to re-inspection and ambient temp was 31 degrees. No violations observed at the time of inspection.

Panera Bread, 4100 S. Campbell Ave., Springfield. Dec. 8 routine inspection – Result: active. No violations observed at the time of inspection.

Popeye's No. 780 - HZ Ops Holdings Inc., 3195 S. Campbell Ave, Springfield. Dec. 12 complaint inspection – Result: active. No priority violations. One non-priority violation: Observed built-up grease on vent hood and vent hood filters, around fryers and back wall behind fryers as well as below; area around fry batter table is not clean. Increase cleaning frequency in these areas.

Rountree School, 1333 E. Grand St., Springfield. Dec. 13 re-inspection – Result: active. Milk cooler temperature was 37 degrees and was fixed prior to re-inspection. No violations observed at the time of inspection.

SPGLF Catholic High School, 2340 S. Eastgate Ave., Springfield. Dec. 14 routine inspection – Result: active. No violations observed at the time of inspection.

Springhouse Village Springfield East, 3877 E. Farm Road 132, Springfield. Dec. 13 routine inspection – Result: active. No violations observed at the time of inspection.

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Starbucks-OTC Store No. 300, 1001 E. Chestnut Expressway, Springfield. Dec. 9 routine inspection – Result: permitted with re-inspection. No priority violations. One non-priority violation: Observed mouse droppings on the floor in the dry storage area.

Steak 'n Shake, 2760 N. Glenstone Ave., Springfield. Dec. 13 routine inspection – Result: active. No violations observed at the time of inspection.

The Barnhouse Event Center - Kitchen, 5484 W. Sunshine St., Brookline. Dec. 9 re-inspection – Result: active. All items corrected, soap and paper towels available at both hand sinks; door is tight fitting and no daylight is coming through; non-food contact surfaces have been cleaned. No violations observed at the time of inspection.

Turner's Station Mercantile, 6484 E. Farm Road 148, Springfield. Dec. 13 routine inspection – Result: active. No violations observed at the time of inspection.

Village Inn, 3026 S. Glenstone Ave., Springfield. Dec. 14 re-inspection – Result: active. No violations observed at the time of inspection.

Waffle House No. 1231, 4128 S. National Ave., Springfield. Dec. 9 routine inspection – Result: active. One priority violation: Observed chemical storage bottles not properly labeled with common name of contents. Items properly labeled at the time of the inspection. No non-priority violations.

Walmart Supercenter No. 86 Deli, 2825 N. Kansas Expressway, Springfield. Dec. 12 routine inspection – Result: active. There were a few rotisserie chickens that had been pulled from chiller (earlier this morning) and in walk-in refrigerator that lacked "use by" dates. No violations cited. No violations at the time of inspection.

Wendy's No. 1061, 4939 W. Chestnut Expressway, Springfield. Dec. 12 re-inspection – Result: permitted with inspection. Another visit will be made on Dec. 15 to check refrigeration and hand sink operation. No violations observed at the time of inspection.

Susan Szuch is the health and public policy reporter for the Springfield News-Leader. Follow her on Twitter @szuchsm. Story idea? Email her at sszuch@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Springfield News-Leader: Greene Co. food inspections find mouse dropping, dirty ice machines