Over a quarter of Greene Co. businesses had issues with safe food handling this week

Of the 32 food inspections performed in the last week, more than a quarter of the reports cited establishments for not using proper time or temperature controls for food.

Eight businesses had issues with keeping hot food hot and cold food cold, and one did not have documentation on food that was on time control.

Food not kept at the correct temperatures can foster growth of bacteria that can make people sick, often without any obvious physical indicators like taste, smell or appearance, according to the United States Department of Agriculture. Hot food should be kept above 135 degrees Fahrenheit and cold food below 41 degrees. Time control is making sure that food that has been removed from safe temperatures is served or consumed within four hours.

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.

Each report identifies what was happening at the establishment at that time. Consumers who want to know whether a violation is a one-time thing or a pattern are encouraged to refer to previous reports.

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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.

Here are food inspections from the last week:

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23-FG Farmers Market-Freedom Farms, 38 S. Main St., Fair Grove. June 8 routine inspection – Result: active. No violations noted.

417 Charcuterie, 2672 S. Glenstone Ave., Springfield. June 14 routine inspection – Result: active. No violations noted.

AM PM Food Mart - Phillips 66, 2720 W. Kearney St., Springfield. June 14 re-inspection – Result: permitted with re-inspection. The hot water faucet at hand sink remains off, due to leak. Facility staff indicate that labels for ice bags have been ordered, but not yet received. Inspector will visit in a week or so to check for correction.

Ash Grove Eagle Stop, 707 E. Boone St., Ash Grove. June 12 routine inspection – Result: permitted with re-inspection. One priority violation: Observed prep refrigerator running at 55 degrees Fahrenheit, and sliced tomatoes on counter without ice were 55 degrees. Potentially hazardous food items in these areas were voluntarily discarded. Two non-priority violations: Observed no thermometer in the prep refrigerator; observed the floor in overstock closet is dirty.

Beth's Bake Shoppe & Tea Room, 1645 W. Republic Road, Springfield. June 9 routine inspection – Result: active. No violations observed.

Burger King No. 28213, 425 N. West Bypass, Springfield. June 9 routine inspection – Result: active. No violations cited.

Chabom Teas & Spices, 209 E. Commercial St., Springfield. June 8 routine inspection – Result: active. No priority violations. One non-priority violation: Observed quat sanitizer test strips were expired, education was given.

Chick-Fil-A, 425 W. Sunshine St., Springfield. June 14 routine inspection – Result: active. No violations cited.

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Crosstown Barbecue, 1331 E. Division St., Springfield. June 13 routine inspection – Result: active. Three priority violations: Observed hot cheese being held at 100 degrees, education was given and situation was corrected; observed knives found stored with handles chipped and melted, education was given and situation corrected on-site; observed cooked items not properly date marked in stainless steel fridge, education was given and violation was corrected. Two non-priority violations: Observed employee hand-washing sink near three-vat sink had very low pressure; observed oven door not firmly attached to oven.

C-Street Farmers Market, 321 E. Commercial St., Springfield. June 8 routine inspection – Result: active. No priority violations. No non-priority violations.

Down South Fried Fish Co., food truck. June 8 routine inspection – Result: Permitted with re-inspection. Discussed cleaning non-food contact surface more frequently and having sanitizer for dish washing on unit at all times. Four priority violations: Observed fish in bucket at room temperature, measuring at 45 degrees, which were placed on time control and will be discarded after 4 hours; observed fried fish held at 115 degrees under warming light, which was placed on time control and will be discarded after 4 hours; observed tartar sauce at 51 degrees in reach-in refrigerator; observed tartar sauces made at commissary not marked with discard date. No non-priority violations.

El Sombrero, 1529 W. Battlefield Road, Springfield. June 12 routine inspection – Result: active. Two priority violations: 1. Observed fish stored beneath chicken in low cooler. Chicken and beef stored next to vegetables in top of prep cooler. Low-boy cooler rearranged to proper order with chicken on bottom and all raw meat and chicken in top of prep cooler moved to low-boy cooler. 2. Observed two half-pans of queso sitting at room temperature, measuring 67 to 68 degrees. Both half-pans of queso voluntarily discarded. One non-priority violation: Observed bar glasses being washed, then sanitized. Corrected on-site, education provided.

Fast-N-Friendly/Battlefield No. 15, 3015 S. Scenic Ave., Springfield. June 14 routine inspection – Result: permitted with re-inspection. Three priority violations: 1. Observed counter height double cooler in kitchen holding potentially hazardous foods above 41 degrees. Cheese, shredded cheese, turkey, ham and hot dogs measured at 56 to 57 degrees and were voluntarily discarded. 2. Observed bleach solution in wiping cloth bucket was over 200 parts per million chlorine. Corrected by remaking solution to 50 to 100 ppm chlorine and education provided. 3. Observed breakfast pizza holding at 114 degrees in pizza case, corrected by placing on time control. Four non-priority violations: 1. Observed no small probe thermometer available for cook's use, a repeat violation. Area manager got metal stem thermometers from home office during inspection. 2. Observed no test strips available for sanitizer solution. Area manager was able to get test strips from home office. Repeat violation, corrected on-site. 3. Observed flies in kitchen and around hot-hold case; ants at back door and crawling on discarded food bin. 4. Observed Gap at bottom of door in kitchen and on front doors where doors meet.

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Fruity Patooties, 1926 S. Glenstone Ave., Springfield. June 14 routine inspection – Result: active. No violations noted.

Kentucky Fried Chicken, 215 E. Sunshine St., Springfield. June 14 routine inspection – Result: active. One priority violation: Observed containers of mac and cheese without dates in walk-in cooler, education provided and corrected on-site. Two non-priority violations: Observed leak on left faucet of three-vat sink, education provided; observed fan in walk-in coolers covered in dust and debris, education provided.

Korner Mart, 100 E. Boone St., Ash Grove. June 12 routine inspection – Result: active. Two priority violations corrected prior to exit. Two priority violations: 1. Observed hot dogs and tornadoes on roller grill were 110 and 112 degrees, respectively. Had staff turn unit up and food was over 140 degrees prior to end of inspection. 2. Observed build-up of dried food debris on slicer, which was corrected by staff taking slicer apart and cleaning it. One non-priority violation: Observed kitchen floor has areas missing paint.

Lorena's Cafe, 513 N. West Bypass, Springfield. June 9 re-inspection – Result: permitted with re-inspection. Investigator went to facility at 10:40 a.m. on June 9. Facility had a sign posted indicating they would close at 2 p.m. every day in the future, due to staff shortage. However, facility was closed at time investigator was there.

Mansion at Elfindale, 1701 S. Fort Ave., Springfield. June 9 routine inspection – Result: active. No violations observed.

McDonald's, 2115 E. Independence St., Springfield. June 12 routine inspection – Result: active. No violations cited.

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Misaki, 1635 N. Glenstone Ave., Springfield. June 12 routine inspection – Result: permitted with re-inspection. Two priority violations: Observed live cockroaches around cook line hand-wash station and back storage area by walk-in cooler, re-inspection scheduled; observed sushi rice on time control found with no documentation of time control, education given and corrected during inspection. Three non-priority violations: Observed ice scoop handle found laying in ice, education given and violation corrected during inspection; observed area behind cook line and employee hand-washing sink was dirty; observed wall next to salad bar and protective shielding above salad bar was dirty, education given.

Nawab's, 3654 S. Campbell Ave., Springfield. June 9 routine inspection – Result: active. One priority violation: Observed not properly cold holding a potentially hazardous food when the onion/tomato sauce measured at 48 degrees on make table, which was discarded. No non-priority violations.

Northview Senior Center, 301 E. Talmage St., Springfield. June 14 routine inspection – Result: active. No priority violations. One non-priority violation: Observed quat sanitizer kits were expired, education given.

Not'cho Ordinary Taco, 440 S. Campbell Ave., Springfield. June 10 re-inspection – Result: permitted with re-inspection. Fly issue noted June 4 has been corrected; non-food contact surfaces have been cleaned. One priority violation: Observed main prep cooler holding potentially hazardous foods above 41 degrees. Owner has ice in unit and alternative unit available, shredded lettuce and diced tomatoes placed on time control for event. Repair company is scheduled for June 12. Repeat violation. Ice is in unit to help with cooling and owner agrees to obtain more in addition to time control. No non-priority violations.

Olive Garden Italian Restaurant, 3105 S. Glenstone Ave., Springfield. June 12 routine inspection – Result: active. No priority violations. One non-priority violation: Observed open energy drink in food preparation area, which was removed.

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Qdoba Mexican Grill, 4127 S. Kansas Expressway, Springfield. June 14 routine inspection – Result: permitted with re-inspection. Two priority violations: 1. Observed chopped steak and chicken in main steam table, small steam table and hot holding unit measuring below 135 degrees, which were all taken out and reheated to over 165 degrees. Repeat violation for items held in hot hold unit. 2. Observed several quarter pans on clean dish rack were not clean, which was corrected on-site and education provided. One non-priority violation: Observed build-up of grease on vent hood frame and areas around grills.

Select Specialty Hospital, 1630 E. Primrose St., Springfield. June 12 routine inspection – Result: active. No violations cited.

Sonic Drive-In, 411 S. Miller Road, Willard. June 14 re-inspection – Result: active. The cold water faucet at three-vat sink near drive-up window had been repaired and was operational at inspection. No violations cited.

Sonic Drive-In, 2605 W. Republic Road, Springfield. June 12 routine inspection – Result: permitted with re-inspection. No priority violations. Three non-priority violations: Observed build up of grease and debris on non-food contact surfaces such as vent hood filters, fryers, sides of prep coolers, doors of equipment and areas around equipment; observed ice machine is leaking onto floor; observed timer not set for tater tots under heat lamp, which measured at 122 degrees and were voluntarily discarded.

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Super 8 Motel, 3034 S. Moulder Ave., Springfield. June 12 routine inspection – Result: active. No violations cited.

Tinga Tacos - Duberry LLC, 308 W. McDaniel St., Springfield. June 8 routine inspection – Result: active. No violations cited.

Travellers House Coffee, 2151 W. Republic Road, Springfield. June 14 re-inspection – Result: active. Priority items corrected: Front cooler holding below 41 degrees, no items held above fill line in back of house prep cooler. No violations cited.

White River Conference Center, 500 W. Sunshine St., Springfield. June 13 routine inspection – Result: active. Person in charge and inspector discussed wall by kettle cooker needing repaired, and that tartar sauce should be given a 7-day use-by date if sauce is made in facility and if commercially prepared, use the use-by date on original package. No priority violations. One non-priority violation: Observed fan shields in walk-in beverage cooler were dirty.

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: Quarter of Greene Co. establishments cited for food temperature issues