Voters guide to Election 2023

Oct. 13—Berks County is divided into three jurisdictions: Reading, Muhlenberg Township and the rest of the county. Reading and Muhlenberg Township have their own food safety inspectors and the rest of the county is inspected by Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture inspectors.

The results will be posted every other week. All food vendors are inspected at least once a year. Other inspections can be triggered by a change of owner, a follow up if a facility had been out of compliance or by a complaint filed with the PDA.

View any vendor's last inspection report online. Click on the PDF version of the inspection report for all details.

If a food provider is labeled out of compliance, that means it has one or more violations that require a return visit by an inspector. The establishment is given time to fix the problem(s) and remains open for business.

Complaints can be filed online with the PDA.

Below are the results of inspections conducted between Sept. 27 and Oct. 10, 2023, that were filed in the state database as of Oct. 12 at 5:30 p.m.

Berks

Cousin's Pub & Company, 1360 Pottsville Pike, Shoemakersville, Oct. 10: three violations. The interior of the ice machine, a food contact surface, was observed to have residue and was not clean to sight and touch. Corrected. Food facility has an employee who held a Certified Food Manager certificate; however, the certificate has expired and is no longer valid. Paper towel dispenser empty at the handwash sink in the kitchen area. Corrected.

Hamburg Area School District Perry Elementary, 201 Fourth St., Shoemakersville, Oct. 10: no violations.

McDonald's #14267, 5500 Pottsville Pike, Leesport, Oct. 10: no violations.

Lou Ees Pizza, 500 Hawk Ridge Drive Suite 6, Hamburg, Oct. 6: no violations.

Sushi Awarsei @ Reading Hospital, 420 S 5th Ave., Reading, Oct. 6: no violations.

Autumn Festival At Savidge Farms, 1710 State St., Mertztown, Oct. 5: no violations.

Jimmy G's Beverly Hills Tavern, 710 Old Fritztown Road, Sinking Spring, Oct. 5: no violations.

Aramark Kutztown University South Dining Hall, 15200 Kutztown Road, Kutztown, Oct. 2: six violations. Observed consumer self-service display of baked goods (donuts, muffins) in Sunny Sides without sneeze guards or other effective protection. The can opener at Avalanche's, a food contact surface, was observed to have dried food residue and was not clean to sight and touch. Corrected. One of the nozzles on the drink unit at Sunny Sides, a food contact surface, was observed to have slimy residue and was not clean to sight and touch. Corrected. Floor under the fryers and grill in the upstairs serving area has an accumulation of dirt and old food debris, particularly back toward the wall and in hard-to-reach areas. Floor under the front counter/shelves and equipment in the Avalanche's area has an accumulation of dirt and old food debris. Soap was not available at the handwash sink in the Sear area. Corrected. The handwash sink in the Sear area does not have single use towels. Corrected. No sign or poster posted at the handwash sink in the Sear area to remind food employees to wash their hands. Corrected.

Julianas, 776 Fritztown Road, Sinking Spring, Oct. 2: 16 violations. The Person in Charge did not demonstrate adequate knowledge of food safety in this food facility as evidenced by this non-compliant inspection. Shellstock tags are not maintained for 90 days from the date the container is emptied. Observed bags panko bread crumbs/flour food stored directly on the floor in pizza mixer area, rather than 6 inches off of the floor as required. Observed a plastic tub of calamari thawing at room temperature on the floor in rear prep area, which is not an approved thawing method. Corrected. Assorted food was held at 50 °F, in the cook line cooler area, rather than 41°F or below as required. Corrected by putting all fresh prepped items on ice until unit is cooled. Shipping overwrap left on exterior of warewashing machine must be removed. Temperature measuring device for ensuring proper temperature of equipment is not available or readily accessible in some reach-in refrigerator equipment. Food facility does not have available sanitizer test strips or test kit to determine appropriate sanitizer concentration. Loose/torn rubber door gaskets observed on the 2 kitchen cooling units. The quaternary ammonia concentration in the sanitizing solution of the 3-bay warewash sink was 150 ppm, rather than 200-400 ppm as stated on the manufacturers use directions. Corrected. Observed deeply scored cutting boards not resurfaced or discarded as required. Single-use condiment and deli containers being used as scoops in flour/sugar bins. Observed hood/ansul equipment, in rear kitchen area, with an accumulation of dust, dirt above cook line that must be cleaned. Reach-in cooler with raw chicken has old spilled dried chicken blood residue on bottom that must be cleaned. Food facility has an employee who held a Certified Food Manager certificate; however, the certificate has expired and is no longer valid. Soap, single-use towels and no sign or poster were not available at the handwash sink in the rear prep area. Working containers in prep area, used for storing chemicals, cleaners taken from bulk supplies, were not marked with the common name of the chemical. Corrected. Out of compliance.

Rich Maiden Golf Course, 234 Richmaiden Road, Fleetwood, Oct. 2: one violation. There is an accumulation of dirt/debris on the floor under the cooking equipment in the kitchen.

Arbys #7714, 809 S. Fourth St., Hamburg, Sept. 29: no violations.

Coastal Grille, 2713 N. Meridian Blvd., Wyomissing, Sept. 29: one violation. Food facility does not have available method to verify the final rinse temperature for the hot water sanitizing dishwasher.

Hamburg Area Sd Tilden Elem, 524 W. State St., Hamburg, Sept. 29: no violations.

On The Border, 796 Woodland Road, Wyomissing, Sept. 29: one violation. One set of light is not shielded or shatter proof over in the kitchen area.

Pizza Como, 501 State St., Hamburg, Sept. 29: four violations. Cardboard covering shelves that are exposed the splash, spillage and for storing clean equipment and food supplies. Observed in use knife with a handle that has peeling foam plastic. Discarded. Spray hose nozzle of prewash sink and warewashing machine has a black dirt build up around nozzle area. Corrected. Observed clean food equipment and/or utensils in area, stored wet in a manner that does not allow for draining and/or air drying (wet nesting). Bowls on shelf not inverted allowing for standing water in bowls. Corrected.

Ridgewood Winery, 2039 Philadelphia Ave., Birdsboro, Sept. 29: no violations.

Russo's Family Restaurant & Pizzeria, 2 S. Fourth St., Hamburg, Sept. 29: no violations.

Ci Hamburg Superstore Lounge, 1635 Mountain Road, Hamburg, Sept. 28: four violations. Thermometers for ensuring proper temperatures of food are not available or readily accessible in upstairs bar reach in. Both bar ice machines are dirty with mold, slime build up along back wall and ice mold plate areas. Both bars have clogged soda nozzle drains and nozzles are resting in old water/syrup. Walls at bins and exterior of ice bins have mold from old splash residue build up. Non-food contact surfaces not cleaned at a frequency to preclude accumulation of dirt and soil. Both bar drains have dirt/sludge buildup in drain pans. Cutting board placed on kitchen bain marie while wet causing mold and stagnant water to lay underneath.

Hamburg Area High School, 701 Windsor St., Hamburg, Sept. 28: three violations. Employees personal lunch bag items observed sitting on a food prep table. Corrected. Warewashing sink has a hose attachment that is hanging below the flood rim of the sink and not an appropriate air gap. Toilet Room door was propped open, and not kept closed as required.

Hamburg Area Middle School, 701 Windsor St., Hamburg, Sept. 28: two violations. The wash solution temperature in the mutitank conveyor, multi-temperature mechanical warewashing equipment was 143-147 °F, rather than not less then 150°F as required. Food facility person in charge does not have records to demonstrate routine inspection and service of backflow prevention devices and other water treatment devices. Steam oven filters do not have last date of service.

Sammy's Steaks & Fries #1 (Xp-57581) (Mff3), 410 Penn Ave., West Reading, Sept. 28: no violations.

Sammy's Steaks & Fries #2 (Xk-39935) (Mff3), 410 Penn Ave., West Reading, Sept. 28: one violation. Some of the light bulbs are missing end caps.

Sammy's Steaks & Fries #3 (Xp-57582) (Mff3), 410 Penn Ave., West Reading, Sept. 28: no violations.

Sammy's Steaks & Fries #5 Xk-40419 (Mff4), 410 Penn Ave., West Reading, Sept. 28: no violations.

Sammy's Steaks & Fries #6 (Xhh6048) Mff3, 410 Penn Ave., Wet Reading, Sept. 28: one violation. One of the awnings is damaged. Owner is in the process of getting it repaired to be sure all openings on this unit are covered when not in use.

The King of Fire Mff4 Ztf7568, 2300 N. Fifth St., Reading, Sept. 28: no violation. The food facility does not have the original certificate for the certified food employee posted in public view. Corrected.

Wendy's # 19304, 15 Daves Way, Hamburg, Sept. 28: one violation. The food facility does not have the original certificate for the certified food employee posted in public view. Corrected.

Arbys #7143, 2741 Papermill Road, Wyomissing, Sept. 27: two violations. There is an accumulation of trash, other debris on the floor under the equipment/shelving in the drive thru area and dry storage room. One of the plastic light shields near the 3-compartment sink is damaged.

Berkshire Family Restaurant, 1714 State Hill Road, Wyomissing, Sept. 27: no violations.

Plaza Azteca Wyomissing, 955 Woodland Road, Wyomissing, Sept. 27: no violations.

Sheetz #603, 8555 Lancaster Ave., Bethel, Sept. 27: no violations.

Shuberts Best, 5836 Four Point Road, Bethel, Sept. 27: no violations.

Trainer's Midway Diner, Rte 78 Exit 16 & Midway Road, Bethel, Sept. 27: four violations. Assorted food, in the basement freezer area, is a packaged food stored or displayed in direct contact with ice due to broken gasket allowing for ice damning near door. Observed wet wiping cloths in front service counter area, not being stored in sanitizer solution. Food facility has an employee that has taken food safety training program; however, the food safety program was not an ANSI/CFP accredited Certified Food Manager program. Lights are not shielded or shatterproof over the rear prep/baking stove area.

West Reading Motor Club, 416 Penn Ave., West Reading, Sept. 27: no violations.

Muhlenberg Township

None filed.

Reading

None filed.

UPDATES

The following reports for the period of Sept. 13 to Sept. 26, 2023, were added to the state's database after Sept. 28 and did not appear in the previous Berks food safety report.

Berks

Betty's, 129 W. Main St., Kutztown, Sept. 26: no violations.

Betty's Old Fashioned Lemonade Unit #1 Mff3 (Xmr-4939), 25 Melody Lane, Birdsboro, Sept. 26: three violations. Food employees observed in mobile, not wearing proper hair restraints, such as nets, hats, or beard covers. PRIOR VIOLATION: 09/20/2022. The handwash sink located in the mobile does not have water at a temperature of at least 85°F. The handwash sink in the mobile was blocked by two bags of sugar and not accessible at all times for employee use.

J A Buffet, 1752 Tilden Drive, Hamburg, Sept. 26: no violations.

Kutztown School District Greenwich Elementary, 1457 Krumsville Road, Lenhartsville, Sept. 26: no violations.

Shoemakersville Fire Company # 1, 300 Church Ave., Shoemakersville, Sept. 26: no violations.

WK & S Railroad Snack Bar, Community Center Drive, Kempton, Sept. 26: no violations.

B-Town Nutrition, 9 S. Washington St., Boyertown, Sept. 25: no violations.

Boyertown Area Schools Earl Elementary, 22 School House Road, Boyertown, Sept. 25: no violations.

Colebrookdale Elementary School, 1001 Montgomery Ave., Boyertown, Sept. 25: no violations.

Grind, 45 S Reading Ave., Boyertown, Sept. 25: four violations. Observed excessive food and grease debris on the cookline equipment and floor, and on the floor under the mechanical warewasher. Observed clean food equipment and/or utensils in the kitchen by the warewasher, stored wet in a manner that does not allow for draining and/or air drying (wet nesting). Food facility inspection indicates evidence of rodent droppings in the alcohol dry storage room and packaging dry storage room. Working containers of sanitizer in the kitchen, were not marked with the common name of the chemical. COS.

Uncle Paul's Pretzels Mff3 PaZjs3226, 94 Pine Road, Hamburg, Sept. 25: no violations.