Priority violations at 29 Livingston County restaurants in November

LIVINGSTON COUNTY — Each month, the Livingston County Health Department inspects restaurants, schools and other facilities for unsafe food practices.

Good food safety practices are critical to preventing foodborne illness and promoting public health. The Daily publishes reports on "priority" violations — ones that could "directly lead to contamination of food or increase the risk of transmitting a foodborne illness,” as well as corrective measures taken. All reports are available at swordsolutions.com/inspections.

A total of 29 dining establishments inspected in November had priority violations. Follow-up inspections are also provided if they occurred in November.

Five priority violations were found at:

M Street Baking Co. 117 N. Michigan Ave. in Howell

Cheese bagels and cooked pitas containing cheese, pepperoni, and vegetables at room temperature were not labeled with discard times. They were labeled. Multiple five-gallon containers of buttercream frosting with heavy cream were stored at room temperature after mixing. They were put in refrigeration. Numerous retail items did not have the required product labeling. The bakery was in the process of obtaining manufactured packaging with labels. They were told to use temporary labels or remove the products from retail sale. An unlabeled refillable spray bottle was located above a prep table. The staff was unaware of the contents. The bottle was removed. Chlorine test strips were not available at a dish machine. Test strips were provided before the end of the inspection.

Four priority violations were found at:

Eternity Brewing, 4060 E. Grand River Ave. in Howell

A pest strip containing Dichlorvos was hanging near the bar glass washer. It was discarded. House-made ranch and feta whip were being held beyond their discard date. They were discarded. An employee placed a dirty glass and bowl into a hand sink. It was removed. Hummus, spinach dip, and cooked ground sausage did not have date marking labels. They were discarded.

Holiday Inn Express, 6910 Whitmore Lake Road in Brighton

Whole apples were not wrapped and there were no tongs provided. It was the eatery's third instance of the violation. Two cases and 26 individual cartons of scrambled egg mix were expired. Employees were told to discard them. Sanitizer test strips were not available. The person in charge provided test strips before the end of the inspection. A pitcher was stored in a hand sink.

Three priority violations were found at:

Greecian Island Restaurant, 9994 E. Grand River Ave. in Brighton

An employee cracked eggs and put on a new pair of gloves without their washing hands. The person in charge educated the employee about when to wash their hands. A new tankless hot water heater was installed without health department approval or plumbing permits. A container with scoops was stored in a hand sink. It was moved.

Joe Kool's, 9555 Village Place Boulvard in Green Oak Township

No chlorine was detected in a dish machine and glass washer. Employees were told to repair the machines. Wing sauce, garlic butter, tartar sauce and jalapeño ranch were past their discard dates. Those foods were also date marked for greater than seven days. They were discarded.

Sidecar Slider Bar, 120 W. Main St. in Brighton

A container of blueberries was moldy. It was discarded. Foods were being date marked for eight days. The person in charge educated employees about proper date marking. There was ice in a hand sink. The person in charge educated employees to use a dump sink.

Two priority violations were found at:

Casa Tequila, 501 W. Main St. in Brighton

Four large, covered containers of cooked pollo (chicken and vegetables) were holding at between 48-52 degrees internally. The pollo sat in deep pans that don't facilitate rapid cooking. They were discarded. Proper cooling procedures were reviewed with staff and a handout was emailed to a manager.

Coratti's Pizza, 316 E. Grand River Ave. in Howell

Three five-gallon containers of tomato sauce were holding at 55 degrees. They were discarded. Tomato sauce was improperly cooled in tall plastic containers. Proper cooling was observed during a follow-up inspection.

Fowlerville Marathon, 941 S. Grand Ave. in Fowlerville

An employee did not wash their hands after changing gloves. The person in charge discussed when to wash hands with food employees. A large garbage can was stored in front of a hand sink. It was moved.

Hatorando Sushi, 10582 Highland Road/M-59 in Hartland Township

Hand towels were not available at two hand sinks. Dispensers were refilled. Two refillable chemical spray bottles were not labeled. They were labeled.

Kojina Deli, 8023 Grand River Ave., Suite 100, in Brighton

A person in charge went from washing dishes to donning food handling gloves without first washing their hands. They washed their hands. There were no paper towels at the employee restroom hand sink. They were provided.

Oak Pointe Country Club, 4500 Club Drive in Brighton

Raw salmon and raw pork were holding at between 46-47 degrees. Employees were told to repair the cooler. The salmon and pork were placed on ice and put in a working cooler. One hand sink was blocked by a rolling cart, and another was being used to fill pitchers.

Red Olive, 3838 E. Grand River Ave. in Howell

Soup and chili were cooled in tall plastic containers in the walk-in freezer. This method will not likely facilitate rapid cooling. The proper procedure was discussed. Chlorine test strips were water-damaged and discolored. They were replaced.

The Feed Bag Cafe, 590 S. Grand Ave in Fowlerville

Olive spread and tuna were past their seven-day markings. They were also beyond their consume date. They were discarded.

Towne Square Pizza, 117 E. Main St. in Pinckney

An employee was cutting tomatoes and handling them with bare hands. They were instructed to use food handling gloves. Low-splash lemon scented bleach was being used as sanitizer, but it's not approved for food contact surfaces. Photos of approved chlorine sanitizer were sent to the health department.

One priority violation was found at:

Guido's Premium Pizza, 10086 Highland Road/M-59 in Hartland Township

Several refillable chemical spray bottles were not labeled. They were labeled.

Hartland Support Service Agency, 9525 Highland Road/M-59 in Hartland Township

An open package of pre-processed coleslaw was beyond the seven-day discard date provided by the facility. It was discarded.

Hell Saloon, 4093 Patterson Lake Road in Hell

A cook told inspectors they cool soups and sauces in eight-inch containers, which is unlikely to cool foods quickly. The cook said they would utilize shallow pans instead.

Holiday Inn Express and Suites, 7850 Nemco Way in Brighton

Whole apples were not wrapped and no tongs were provided. The apples were washed and tongs were provided.

Hungry Howie's, 11930 Whitmore Lake Road, Suite H, in Whitmore Lake

Food was date marked for eight days. The person in charge re-dated everything.

Lakelands Golf and Country Club, 8760 Chilson Road in Brighton

A hand sink contained a used knife. It was moved.

Little Caesars, 9998 E. Grand River Ave. in Brighton

A tub full of pizza pans was stored in a hand sink. It was moved.

McDonald's, 945 S. Grand Ave. in Fowlerville

PVC pipe coming from the dish machine was partially draining onto the floor. The pipe was repaired.

Mugg and Bopps, 763 S. Michigan Ave. in Howell

A sanitizer dispenser in the pizza prep kitchen was empty. It was refilled.

Single Barrel Social, 8724 W. Grand River Ave. in Brighton

An employee was cutting apples with their bare hands. The person in charge discussed the need to wear gloves when handling ready-to-eat food with the employee.

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Tyrone Hills Golf Club, 8449 US-23 in Fenton

"No splash" chlorine bleach was being used in the kitchen, but it's not approved for food service applications. The product was discarded.

Wendy's, 9370 Lee Road in Green Oak Township

Chili was holding at 110 degrees. The warmer wasn't working at time of inspection. The chili was discarded and the person in charge placed the malfunctioning warmer out of service.

White Castle, 3832 E. Grand River Ave. in Howell

A tray and pan of raw beef were stored on an upper shelf, above other ready-to-eat food products. The raw items were relocated to a lower shelf.

Zukey Lake Tavern, 5011 Girard Drive in Hamburg Township

A dish machine at the bar was not sanitizing. Sanitizer was added and primed.

— Contact reporter Jennifer Eberbach at jeberbach@livingstondaily.com. 

This article originally appeared on Livingston Daily: Priority violations at 29 Livingston County restaurants in November