Why this Columbia restaurant had to temporarily close after an inspection
An eatery in southern Columbia had to contend with a temporary closure last week after it had failed to pay a reinspection fee.
Ocha Thai, 510 Green Meadows Road, Suite 101, had to put up its closed sign until about 4 p.m. June 18. This was when Columbia/Boone County Public Health and Human Services received confirmation a $110 reinspection fee was paid by the restaurant. While the restaurant had corrected health code violations dating back to April, the fee still was outstanding.
Routine inspections happen two to three times per year based on priority and location of Columbia restaurants, PHHS previously has said. Follow-up inspections happen if a critical violation is found. Reports are from June 18 through Monday. There were no inspections June 19 due to the Juneteenth holiday.
If a restaurant fails to make corrections, they are faced with second follow-up, but this time with a $110 reinspection fee. Restaurants usually can correct noncritical violations by the next routine inspection. There are times when noncritical violations can lead to the reinspection fee and even a permit suspension. This happened last month when Delia's Mexican Grill, 201 N. 10th St., had failed to provide records of a food manager certificate and food handler cards for staff.
Second-chance reinspections
Four other restaurants in Columbia are facing secondary reinspections with fees for failing to address issues from a previous reinspection.
An inspector found Gunter Hans, 7 Hitt St., still had a soiled ice machine and no hot water at a back area hand sink June 20. Another reinspection was scheduled for Friday. These issues were found at a June 11 inspection.
Hot Box Cookies, 1013 E. Broadway, still did not have a food manager's certificate on file June 20 after an earlier routine inspection. A health inspector will visit again Thursday with a fee applied. The inspector notes the bakery had not supplied a rescheduling request before June 20 reinspection.
McDonald's, 3206 Clark Lane, has until Wednesday to get concentration test strips for a hydrogen peroxide-based sanitizer. None were available at a June 4 routine inspection, at a subsequent inspection June 18 and again June 21, which is when the fee was applied.
Fazoli's 1114 I-70 Drive SW, still had not addressed a soiled ice machine Monday after its routine inspection June 20. A second reinspection was scheduled Thursday.
There were other significant issues last week at the restaurant. The inspector found food was being held past a discard date, all of which was thrown out during the June 20 inspection.
Staff also were thawing frozen items on a counter, rather than in a refrigerator, under cold running water or in a microwave as part of a continuous cooking process. The food sitting out was moved to a refrigerator and food safety education was provided. There were towels in use for sanitizing surfaces sitting outside of a sanitizing solution bucket rather than stored inside. That also was addressed June 20. Employee personal food was moved from above restaurant food. An ice machine in disrepair needs to be fixed by October.
Other recent reinspections
A health inspector received confirmation June 20 that I'm Korean Bbq and Sushi, 4603 John Garry Drive, Suite 3, now has a food manager's certificate on file, which it did not have back in April.
50 Yard Line Sports Bar and Grill, 807 E. Walnut, confirmed with an inspector June 20 that it now had concentration test strips for a hydrogen peroxide-based sanitizer after they were not onsite June 12 and June 18.
Temperature and time issues at routine inspections
A health inspector had a discussion with the management June 21 at the 205 Business Loop 70 E. location of McDonald's after they found there was no timestamp log on a cooler holding bacon next a grill station. Timestamps were put on the bacon during the inspection. The location also has until Wednesday to address ice build up in a fry freezer. The inspector also held a proactive discussion with management on updating a binder monthly that holds a food management certificate and employee food handler cards. This includes removing food handler cards of previous employees, putting new employee food handler cards inside and ensuring current employees renew cards if expired.
Chicken, cut tomatoes and a corn salsa were not holding temps at 41 degrees or below at one salad and sandwich making station at McAlister's Deli, 1205 Grindstone Parkway June 18. Those items were discarded during the inspection. An underneath reach-in part of that same cooler was maintaining temps for food items, including those previously noted. An inspector was to double check this Tuesday, but a report was not yet available. This is when the inspector also was to verify if the restaurant had purchased concentration test strips for a hydrogen peroxide-based sanitizer. A box of food was found on the floor of the walk-in freezer June 18 instead of six inches off the floor. While noncritical, it was corrected during the inspection. The next routine inspection is in August.
Other routine inspections
To Go Sandwiches, 308 S. Ninth St. had a few critical violations at its inspection Monday. An inspector found a soiled ice chute, that there were no sanitizer concentration test strips and that there was no air gap at a three compartment and produce washing sink. An air gap is required between a floor drain and an inlet pip at least twice the diameter of the inlet pipe. The eatery had to fix these by Thursday. A proactive discussion was held with management on cleaning or replacing ceiling tiles when they become soiled. The inspector also will need to verify a food manager certification and food handler cards at the reinspection.
More: This Columbia restaurant had its operator's license revoked temporarily last week
Pho Quan Viet Cuisine, 2016 Paris Road, had one noncritical violation June 18 it can correct by its next routine inspection in October. A trash can in the women's restroom needs a cover or the restaurant needs to purchase a separate covered receptacle for disposal of feminine hygiene products. A discussion also was held with management on food storage parameters. Eggs can be stored above raw meat, but must be below ready to eat items. Eggs were moved during the inspection. The inspector also discussed monitoring food temps to ensure hot food holding stays at 135 degrees or higher. Some fried chicken had tested slightly below this temperature.
Only one restaurant in reports had no violations during its routine inspection. This was Red Lobster on June 18 at 1110 I-70 Drive SW.
Previously: This downtown eatery had raw meat above other food during an inspection last week
This article originally appeared on Columbia Daily Tribune: Columbia Thai restaurant temporarily closes over reinspection fee
