Sticky handles, rodent dropping, black mold: Abilene's weekly restaurant inspections
The city of Abilene Environmental Health Division regularly monitors restaurants and food establishments for compliance with state food safety requirements.
Frequent inspections are essential in preventing the spread of foodborne illnesses through contamination and improper handling, storage and sanitation.
Scores for retail food establishments, food stores, mobile food units and school and daycare establishments inspected the week of June 24-30 are listed below.
Disclaimer: On any given day, an establishment may have fewer or more violations than noted in its most recent inspection. An inspection conducted on any given day may not be representative of the overall, long-term conditions at the establishment. A few more recent, follow-up inspections may not be included here.
Perfect scores
First Methodist Church Kitchen, 202 Butternut St.
High to moderates scores
DK, 4102 Loop 322: 99
Majestic, 181 Pine St.: 99
The Biscuit Bar, 2447 North Judge Ely Blvd.: 98
Day Nursery of Abilene, 1442 Vine St.: 98
Starbucks, 5333 Buffalo Gap Road: 98
Day Nursery of Abilene, 3434 Sherry Lane: 98
Holiday Inn, 3525 West Lake Road: 97
Taco Bell, 2201 Pine St.: 97
Glo Daycare Kitchen, 320 Orange St.: 97
The Flipping Egg, 4138 Ridgemont Drive: 97
Sonic, 202 N. Judge Ely Blvd.: 94
City Light Community Ministries, 1441 North Fourth St.: 94
Twisted Root Burger Co., 2419 North Judge Ely Blvd.: 93
Fat Boss's Pub, 216 Pine St.: 93
Stripes Store, 1409 Dub Wright Blvd.: 92
Café 322, 4002 Loop 322: 92
Firehouse Subs, 3858 Ridgemont Drive: 91
Last week's inspections: Meat at wrong temp, food debris, dirty opener: Abilene's weekly restaurant inspections
Low scores and why
BK Donuts, 5202 Hwy 277 S.: 89
Priority violation: Milk seen in a display cooler temped at 58 degrees for less than four hours. Corrected on-site and moved to another cooler for rapid cool down.
Priority violation: Spray can of insect killer was seen on shelf next to ware. Violation was corrected on-site and moved.
The person in charge does not demonstrate knowledge of regulatory practices to prevent foodborne disease spread because they were issued two critical or priority items during the current inspection.
Display cooler was not keeping time-temperature controlled foods at proper temperature. Corrected on-site and thermostat was turned down.
Ceiling tiles in kitchen were not visibly smooth and easily cleanable.
Observed accumulation of dirt, dust and food at floor-wall joints in the kitchen.
Los Arcos, 1902 Ambler Ave.: 86
Priority violation: Cooked beans stored in the walk-in cooler overnight and still had a temperature of 49 degrees. Product was to be cooled in only six hours to prevent bacteria growth. Person in charge discarded the product.
Priority violation: Observed an unclean plate to sight and touch on the ready line with debris on the food contact surface.
Priority violation: Visible debris on the blade of a wall-mounted vegetable dicer.
Priority violation: Ware wash machine was not dispensing sanitizer. Establishment will use the three compartment sink until the machine is repaired.
A certified food manager was not present at the time of the inspection.
Sauces at the prep table were sitting on top of ice. Inspector provided education on proper cooling methods with ice.
Chili rellenos and pots of sauce in the walk-in cooler were not marked with a preparation date and not properly covered, wrapped or otherwise protected.
Wet wiping cloths set on the ware wash area countertop were not properly stored between use.
Dixie Pig, 1401 Butternut St.: 84
Priority violation: Walk-in cooler was approximately 53 degrees for an unknown period of time. Stored items were checked and temped in danger zone. Repair technician responded during the inspection and found that the cooler was 2 pounds low on refrigerant. Items out of temperature were discarded.
Priority violation: The drain for the hand-wash sink at the ware wash station is plumbed with flex pipe instead of schedule-40 PVC pipe. All plumbing must meet code.
Several items in the walk-in cooler were marked as "5/23." An employee stated that they were mismarked and corrected the labels. Inspection done on June 25.
A bulk container was seen with a broken lid.
A soiled wiping cloth was hanging on a shelf and not stored between use.
Observed steel bowls on a rack that were not stored inverted to protect the food contact surface. Employee corrected on the spot.
Dust buildup was visible on the walls and ceiling in the kitchen area. Observed damage to floors and walls in the kitchen.
Farolitos Cafe, 209 Cottonwood St.: 83
Priority violation: Chili sauce stored in walk-in cooler temped at 64 degrees after cooling overnight. Person in charge discarded and will use smaller containers to chill going forward.
Priority violation: Observed an unclean plate to sign and touch on a shelf. Person in charge removed the plates for cleaning.
Fajitas in the walk-in cooler were not marked with the preparation date.
Hand-wash sink does not run water through mixing valve or combination faucet. Water flows through separate spigots.
Observed a single rodent dropping in the store room.
Items in the walk-in cooler were not covered, wrapped or otherwise protected to prevent contamination.
Bowls for salsa at the hostess area were not covered or inverted to protect the food contact surface.
Grease-like residue was seen on the vent hood and ceiling.
Facility determined to be in state of disrepair with holes of broken, chipped, gouged plaster-type walls and ceiling throughout the kitchen and storage areas. Not in compliance with keeping physical facilties clean and maintained.
China Star, 3601 S. First St.: 78
Priority violation: Observed broccoli salad at the salad bar with a temperature of 60 degrees as taken with a calibrated probe thermometer. Person in charge stated the product had been on the line for about two hours and was replaced with fresh product and fresh ice at the salad bar.
Priority violation: Cut meats in the walk-in cooler were in the temperature danger zone. Meats were cut about three hours earlier and were moved to the freezer to rapidly chill. Inspector discussed using smaller containers to help with cooling.
Priority violation: Food was stored in not food-grade safe plastic carry-out bags in the small refrigerator near the cooks station.
Priority violation: Visible food residue was seen on stacked stainless food bins.
Priority violation: Violation for improper storage of chemicals or toxic substances. Observed WD-40 and paint primer in the restaurant kitchen area.
Improper cooling method was used. Meats stored in too large of a bin to cool in a timely manner. Person in charge will divide items into smaller portions.
Several containers were not labeled with times or dates.
Food containers were seen on the floor in the kitchen.
Several food bins throughout the establishment were not covered, wrapped or otherwise protected from contamination.
Observed dust buildup on the fans in the walk-in cooler.
The handle to the reach-in freezer near the rear door was dirty and sticky, and the floor of the freezer had food debris on it.
Not in compliance for covering receptacles that contain food residue and that are not in continuous use. The doors on both outside dumpsters were open.
Ceiling tile in the men's restroom was damaged.
The floor in the work area near the bar was very sticky.
Not in compliance with providing a covered receptacle in the ladies room.
Employee reporting illness signs were not posted at each hand-wash station.
Armandos Restaurant, 2549 S. First St.: 76
Priority violation: Measured green sauce on the salsa bar with a temperature of 48 degrees for less than four hours. Employee added ice to the bar to chill the product.
Priority violation: Black mold-like growth was seen on the inside top of the ice bin of the ice machine. Person in charge will have the machine cleaned.
Priority violation: Raw ground sausage was stored directly over raw shelled eggs in the walk-in cooler. Person in charge will rearrange products.
Priority violation: The blade of the potato slicer was not clean to sight and touch.
Priority violation: The sanitizing solution in the bucket near the soda machine had near zero PPM chlorine.
Containers of raw meat in the walk-in cooler were not at all date marked.
The thermometer for the walk-in cooler was not working properly.
Hand-wash station nearest the cooking area is not working. Hand-washing is done at the sink near the soda fountain.
Observed a gap at the rear door between the door and the floor sill large enough for pests to enter.
Flies were seen in the dining room, and two dead flies were in the ice cream cooler.
Bowls of salsa in the walk-in cooler and taquitos in a reach-in freezer were not covered, wrapped or otherwise protected from food contamination.
Steel pans were stacked or "wet nested" on a rack before completely air dried.
Observed food debris and soda syrup on the floor under the soda machine.
Observed multiple broken and cracked floor tiles in the kitchen.
Certified food manager certificate was not posted.
Mexico Viejo, 2002 East Overland Trail: 71
Priority violation: Measured chorizo and raw chicken with temperature of 52 degrees stored in the drawer cooler for less than 4 hours. Corrected on-site and moved to walk-in cooler for rapid cool down.
Priority violation: Opened commercially packaged turkey breast did not have date mark. Violation was corrected on-site.
Priority violation: Observed mold-like substance in margarita dispenser valve and on inside cap of nozzle of soda machine. Violation was corrected on-site and equipment was cleaned and sanitized.
Priority violation: Raw shelled eggs were stored on walk-in cooler shelf with milk and raw vegetables. Corrected on-site and moved.
Priority violation: Sanitizer solution bucket with sanitizer concentration with chlorine bleach was not detectable by test strip. Corrected on-site and replaced with proper sanitizer solution.
Priority violation: Accumulation of grease was seen on top of and on the ground around the grease container.
The person in charge does not demonstrate knowledge of regulatory practices to prevent foodborne disease spread because they were issued six critical or priority violations during the current inspection.
Drawer cooler under the stove had a temperature of 55 degrees and was not cold holding food at proper temperature. Corrected on-site and moved food to walk-in for rapid cool down.
Visible accumulation of debris on the floor in the walk-in cooler.
Bags of onions were stored on the floor in the outside shed. Box of tortilla chips were on the floor in kitchen. Corrected on-site and moved.
Not in compliance for approved thawing methods. Salmon in sealed reduced oxygen packaging stored in drawer cooler to thaw had a label indicating it was to be kept frozen until time of use and should have packaging removed prior to thawing under refrigeration. Corrected on-site and voluntarily discarded.
A box of single-use containers were stored on the floor in the outside shed. Corrected on-site and moved.
Observed ice scoop stored in an unclean area on top of the ice machine.
Grease container lid was open outside of the refuse area. Corrected on-site and lid closed.
Ceiling tile was hanging down and not in place inside kitchen by the back door.
Routine inspection for daycares
Kids Kampus South, 1410 Portland Ave.: No score given.
Inspection Comments: Surfaces, such as window sills, are not clean. Per the director, they have scheduled to have the daycare center and kitchen deep-cleaned by a third party within the next week. The outdoor play area is in the process of being cleaned and brought up to standards. Piles of weeds and tree limbs, for example, were observed.
Per the director, they are still in the process of cleaning the outdoor play areas, and the debris will be removed from the premises prior to opening. Reminder: Hazardous chemicals in the classrooms were not within easy reach of children, however, some chemicals were at the top of potentially climbable shelves. It is recommended to relocate all chemicals to a high shelf that is not accessible to children, even via a climbable surface.
Per the director, bedding/linens will be washed on a weekly basis or sent home with parents to be washed, according to parent preference. Windows are not screened. Per the director, the windows will not be used for ventilation. Reminder: Recommended to replace the black plastic structure that runs the perimeter of the various play areas and is used to contain gravel as it is damaged and broken. The director agreed that the structure should be replaced.
To report a food establishment that is not following safe food-handling practices, call Environmental Health at 325- 437-4590 to initiate a complaint. Be prepared to provide specific details about the name and address of the facility, the date and time the unsafe practice was observed, and the exact practice in question.
This article originally appeared on Abilene Reporter-News: Abilene's weekly restaurant inspections June 24-30
