NEW BRUNSWICK: Another restaurant closed; others get red-stripe status
21.mar.09
dailygleaner.com
Heather Mclaughlin
http://dailygleaner.canadaeast.com/cityregion/article/610374
Another Fredericton-area food establishment has had its licence revoked, while two others have been hit with red-striped warnings, indicating they've failed in major areas of the government's inspection report.
The Golden Mile Roadhouse on Route 101 in New Maryland failed its inspection Thursday, and its licence was yanked by the provincial Health Department.
Chez Riz on Queen Street was closed Tuesday after a health inspector wrote up three pages of violations on everything from food-handling practices to cleanliness of the premises and restaurant equipment.
The restaurant reopened Friday.
Health Department spokeswoman Meghan Cumby said for a restaurant to regain its licence, it has to meet the green standard - the highest score available to a food service establishment –- upon reinspection.
The province has a colour-based scoring system.
Yellow indicates a restaurant has a mix of minor and major problems. A striped-red warning signals major or critical failings, while a solid-red signals a licence has been revoked.
"I've called my maintenance man right away. After 10 years of working day and night, I guess I neglected the basic cleanups. It won't happen again," said Golden Mile owner Mon Hong. "It's going to take at least three days to do a lot of repairs."
He said he hopes to have his reinspection done at the first of next week.
The health inspector cited the Golden Mile Roadhouse for, among other things, fridge cleaning issues, improper storage of dry noodles and failure to keep cooked chicken balls at the property temperature until served.
"Staff unaware of proper temperature holding of potentially dangerous foods," the inspector wrote of one violation marked critical.
"No handwashing observed during inspection" was another major violation.
The restaurant was cited for not cleaning the walk-in cooler, fridge racks and defrosting.
The inspector said a health policy has to be posted for staff, along with handwashing rules.
Food in a walk-in cooler wasn't stored at the proper temperature and all food had to be discarded, said another section of the five-page report.
Information on restaurant inspections can be found at the provincial Health Department website at www.gnb.ca by clicking on the food inspection icon.
UK: Fat Duck roasted over norovirus-infected staff
21.mar.09
Telegraph.co.uk
Harry Wallop
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/foodanddrink/foodanddrinknews/5024258/Fat-Duck-roasted-over-
norovirus-infected-staff.html
The Michelin-starred restaurant, run by renowned chef Heston Blumenthal, had to shut its doors earlier this month after 40 diners complained of feeling unwell after eating at the Fat Duck.
While it was closed a further 400 people came forward, claiming they too had been hit by a mysterious bug from the restaurant. This figure has now climbed to 529, including celebrities such as boxing promoter Frank Warren.
On Friday the Health Protection Agency said that it was still conducting its investigation, but confirmed that six members of staff and eight diners had been infected with norovirus – known as the "winter vomiting disease" and the most common cause of stomach bugs.
A spokesman denied the restaurant had been negligent in allowing sick staff to work at the Fat Duck.
"We are pleased that the HPA has identified a potential source as its tests have shown that some staff and customers carried the norovirus. While the source of this virus is nearly impossible to identify, if a member of staff returned to work whilst still carrying it then they did so unaware they either had the virus or were still contagious.
"We will continue to work with the HPA and their ongoing investigation."
Blumenthal is understood to have lost about £300,000 while the restaurant, famed for its snail porridge and bacon & egg ice cream, was closed.
NEW BRUNSWICK: Fredericton restaurant loses licence
19.mar.09
Canadaeast News Service
Heather Mclaughlin
http://timestranscript.canadaeast.com/news/article/608228
FREDERICTON -- A Fredericton restaurant has had its licence revoked after an inspection Tuesday found three pages worth of items needing correction.
Chez Riz, which opened in July 2005, serves Indian and Pakistani cuisine at its Queen Street location.
Rizwan Ul-Haq was working at the restaurant yesterday evening, trying to correct the deficiencies identified in his March 17 inspection.
He's promising to keep a closer eye on the establishment and he's hoping inspectors will give him a clean report today after a re-inspection.
"I will be ready today or tomorrow. He'll (the inspector) check everything and we'll be fine," Ul-Haq said. "I will give more attention to this, because I've never had any problem. I was always on green until the day before yesterday. They've checked a couple of times and everything was fine."
A green colour code, according to the government's restaurant inspection website, means an establishment has only a couple of minor problems. It's the government's top rating for a restaurant.
Ul-Haq said one of his problems is that the restaurant's building was recently flooded due to a leaking roof and melting snow.
The inspection report said the walk-in refrigerator needed cleaning and knives under a steam table were dirty. A large can opener was dirty.
TENNESSEE: Restaurant ratings
19.mar.09
The Leaf-Chronicle
http://www.theleafchronicle.com/article/20090319/COMMUNITY/903190346
The following are the Montgomery County Health Department's food service establishment inspection scores and the Department of Agriculture's retail establishment scores. Food service establishments include schools, day cares and restaurants. The highest possible score is 100.
FEB. 24
# Hands & Hearts Child Care, 1086 Lafayette Road, 91, complete.
# New York Pizza Depot, 3297 Fort Campbell Blvd., 86, complete.
# Burritos Fresh Mexican Restaurant, 1911 Fort Campbell Blvd., 83, complete.
# El Toro, 1200 Fort Campbell Blvd., 78, follow-up inspection required due to violations involving hand washing and cleanliness, good hygienic practices, sanitization rinse cleanliness, temperature, concentration, exposure time, equipment, utensil sanitization.
FEB. 25
# Mainstay Suites Continental Breakfast, 115 Fairbrook Place, 92, follow-up inspection required due to violations involving number, convenience, accessibility, design, installation of toilet and handwashing facilities.
TENNESSEE: Restaurant-goers sickened by raw oysters, again
18.mar.09
WTVC-TV
http://www.newschannel9.com/news/health_976608___article.html/oysters_illness.html
Barfblog Post
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. -- Just about two months after a previous outbreak, more illnesses have been reported by people who ate raw oysters at the Boathouse Rotisserie and Raw Bar. The Chattanooga-Hamilton County Health Department recommends that consumers avoid raw oyster consumption.
Nineteen people reported illnesses after eating at the Boathouse between January 12th and 18th. Recent illnesses associated with raw oyster consumption included 9 ill individuals who ate there between March 5th and March 8th.
Following an inspection at the restaurant, health officials did not identify the facility as a source of the infection.
Following standard protocol, the Health Department conducted the investigation to determine the cause of the illness. Persons reporting illness have been contacted and interviewed. Laboratory testing of ill individuals identified Norovirus as the cause of the illness. The establishment fully cooperated with the Health Department's procedures, including halting service of implicated oysters when notified of the illnesses.
Bacterial and viral pathogens can be carried in oysters, including Vibrio, Hepatitis A and Norovirus. Even in healthy individuals, these pathogens cause illness. These illnesses can be severe, particularly in the elderly or in persons with weakened immune systems. In addition, most of these illnesses can then be spread to other individuals through person to person contact.
"Oysters should be cooked thoroughly," says Margaret Zylstra, Epidemiology Manager at the Chattanooga-Hamilton County Health Department. "Any oyster not thoroughly cooked poses the risk of foodborne illness."
TEXAS: Food service inspections
17.mar.09
Victoria Advocate
http://www.victoriaadvocate.com/features/food/story/433180.html
The Victoria City-County Health Department and its sister organization, the Crossroads Public Health District, inspect places where food is served in Victoria, DeWitt, Jackson and Calhoun counties.
In the inspection reports, each violation in the Food Temperature/Time Requirements category is 5 demerits; in the Personnel/Handling/Source Requirements category, 4 demerits; and in the Facility and Equipment Requirements, 3 demerits. Zero is a perfect score while 100 demerits is the worst possible score.
Each Wednesday, the Advocate publishes inspection results from the previous week. All demerits are reported, but only those in the categories of Food Temperature/Time Requirements and Personnel/Handling/Source Requirements are detailed.
FOOD SERVICE INSPECTIONS FOR THE WEEK ENDING Mar 13
Siesta Restaurant, 2505 E. Houston Highway in Victoria. Demerits: 38. Improper cooling, improper cold hold, inadequate hand washing, need to discard food that has been out of the cooler more than four hours, improper handling or ready-to-eat foods, need to use approved date-labeling system. Four facility or equipment violations.
The Norteno Mexican Food, 4105 Port Lavaca Drive in Victoria. Demerits: 20. Improper handling of ready-to-eat foods, need to use approved date-labeling system. Four facility or equipment violations.....
WEST VIRGINIA: Deputy reports finding pubic hair on fast-food sandwich
17.mar.09
WTOV
wtov9.com
http://www.wtov9.com/news/18949108/detail.html
http://barfblog.foodsafety.ksu.edu/2009/03/articles/culture-of-food-safety/cop-finds-pubic-hair
-on-wendys-sandwich/
MOUNDSVILLE, W.Va. -- Charges are pending against two fast-food restaurant employees after a sheriff's deputy said he found pubic hair on his sandwich.
According to the Marshall County Sheriff's Department, the deputy went through the Wendy's drive-through in Moundsville Sunday night before heading to work.
He finished his chili and opened his sandwich. It was then he said he spotted the ball of pubic hair.
Later, Wendy's employees Thomas Bender and Joshua Monroe confessed to the crime and said they purposely targeted an officer, Chief Deputy Kevin Cecil said.
Cecil said 32-year-old Bender admitted to putting the hair on the food, and 20-year-old Monroe admitted he encouraged Bender to do it.
A charge of tampering with food is pending for Bender. Monroe could be charged with aiding and abetting or conspiracy, police said.
Deputies are waiting for Bender's blood test results. If he has any diseases, the misdemeanor charge will be escalated to a felony.
New food safety infosheet -- Outbreak at celebrity chef's restaurant caused by norovirus
17.mar.09
Bites
Benjamin Chapman
http://www.foodsafety.ksu.edu/articles/1290/Foodsafetyinfosheet-3-18-09.pdf
The newest food safety infosheet, a graphical one-page food safety-related story directed at food handlers, is now available at www.foodsafetyinfosheets.com
Food safety infosheet highlights:
-The Fat Duck, UK celebrity chef Heston Blumenthal’s top restaurant, has been linked to 400 illnesses.
- Reports suggest that 16 of the celebrity chef’s staff were struck by norovirus.
- Pathogens can be passed on by someone even if they aren’t feeling ill.
- Norovirus can stay viable on surfaces for weeks.
Food safety infosheets are created weekly and are posted in restaurants, retail stores, on farms and used in training throughout the world. If you have any infosheet topic requests, or photos, please contact Ben Chapman at benjamin_chapman@ncsu.edu
You can follow food safety infosheets stories and barfblog on twitter @benjaminchapman and @barfblog.
OHIO: Restaurant inspections
16.mar.09
Newark Advocate
http://www.newarkadvocate.com/article/20090316/NEWS01/903160322
Bubba's Pizza, March 2, 1226 W. Church St., Newark, 30 day inspection with no violation reported.
Village Brewing Company, March 2, 1225 W. Church St., Newark, 30 day inspection with no violation reported.
Vannatta's Right Choice No. 1, March 2, 2646 Mount Vernon Road, Newark, standard inspection with violations reported. 1. Floor in walk-in cooler is broken. 2. Ceiling in walk-in cooler has dust/dirt.
St. Louisville Village Market, March 2, 8260 Mount Vernon Road, St. Louisville, standard inspection with violations reported. 1. Hand wash sink and three-bay sink need to be sealed to wall.
Lonsinger Pharmacy, March 2, 244 N. Main St., Utica, standard inspection with no violations reported.
LEADS Head Start-Utica, March 2, 308 N. Main St., Utica, standard inspection with no violations reported.
Ben Franklin, March 2, 61 S. Main St., Utica, standard inspection with no violations reported.
Legend Hill Orchard, March 2, 11335 Reynolds Road, Utica, standard inspection with violations reported. 1. Underground water line by grease trap is leaking.....
TEXAS: Food establishment inspection report
16.mar.09
Amarillo.com
http://www.amarillo.com/stories/031609/new_12890570.shtml
The Food Establishment Inspection Report is a weekly report that appears on Mondays. Information is taken from reports provided by the Bi-City-County Health District and individual reports can be viewed at their Web site at www.ci.amarillo.tx.us/departments/environhealth/foodestablishments.htm.
The following report reflects only demerits the establishments received.
0 demerits - no major violations at the time of inspection.
15 demerits - considered an average number.
30 demerits or above - requires re-inspection within 24 hours.
COS - corrected on site during inspection.
These establishments had 0 demerits during a routine inspection: Arby's, 5214 S. Western St.; Ashmore Inn and Suites, 2301 E. I-40; Auntie Annes Soft Pretzel, 7701 W. I-40; Bangkok Tokyo, 2413 S. Western St.; C C Donut Shop, 1401 Ross St.; Children's Circle of Friends, 3510 Bowie St.; Continental, 1300 S. Jackson St.; Farmer Bros, 1415 S. Johnson St.; Friendly Discount, 2900 S. Western St.; Frosty Treats, Permits HFRM248,HF1491, HFM209, HFM210, HFM211, HFM213, HFM216, HFM238, HFM241, HFM271, HFM274, 1017 S.W. Fourth Ave.; Frosty Treats of Texas Inc., HFM272, 1017 S.W. Fourth Ave.; Marble Slab Creamery, Permit HFK8, 201 Westgate Parkway West; McDonald's, 4402 Teckla Blvd.; North Heights Elementary, 607 N. Hughes St.; Pizza Planet, 335 E. Hastings Ave.; Restaurante Los Hermanos Ramierz, 5009 E. Amarillo Blvd.; Taco Bell, 5807 S.W. 45th Ave.; Toot'n Totum #65, 2500 S. Georgia St.; Water Barrel, 3213 S. Western St.; Whataburger #114, 4111 S.W. 45th Ave.
These establishments had 0 demerits during a follow-up inspection: Applebee's Neighborhood Grill, 2810 S. Soncy Road; Asian Garden, 2222 S.E. 27th Ave.; Braum's Ice Cream #60, 1900 S. Grand St.; Dyers Bar B Que, 1619 S. Kentucky St.; King and I Restaurant, 2300 Bell St.; La Cocina Restaurant, 511 S. Grand St.; La Quinta Inn #0454, 1708 E. I-40; Macaroni Joes, 1619 S. Kentucky St.; Marble Slab Creamery, Permit HF855, 201 Westgate Parkway West; Nachos Mex Bar & Grill, 3333 S. Coulter St.; Palo Duro High School, 1400 N. Grant St.; Popeye's Chicken & Biscuits, 2201 Paramount Blvd.; Porras Produce, 700 N. E. Third Ave.; Saffron Mediterranean, 1511 Quarter Horse Drive; Subway #14315, 2700 W. I-40.
These establishments received demerits for being out of compliance as stated:.....
ARKANSAS: Restaurant inspections
16.mar.09
Northwest Arkansas Times
http://nwanews.com/nwat/News/74890/
Information is from Arkansas Department of Health records. Restaurants are listed in order of inspection date. All reports are from regular food service/food store inspections unless otherwise noted.
· Critical violations are defined as items that relate directly to factors that lead to food-borne illness, and must be corrected immediately.
· Noncritical violations are defined as items that relate to maintenance of food operations and cleanliness.
The following establishments were inspected March 4-9 and had no violations reported:
Eureka Pizza #9, 693 E.White St., Springdale. EZ Mart #433, 4026 Wedington Drive, Fayetteville. Firehouse Subs, 2630 E. Citizen Drive, Fayetteville. Harps Food Store #119, Highway 412 W, Springdale. Hunan Manor, 1147 Tahoe Place, Fayetteville. Kappa Sigma, 711 W. Dickson St., Fayetteville. Mabuhay Oriental Store, 3980 W.Wedington Drive, Fayetteville. Penguin Ed's BBQ West, 6347 Wedington Drive, Fayetteville. Taco Shack, 1192 N. Garland, Fayetteville. Tienda El Savadoreno, 1528 W. Sunset Ave., Springdale.
Feb. 20 Youth Bridge 4153 Crossover, Fayetteville
Critical violations include: paper towels must be provided at handsink. Noncritical violations include: chemical test strips needed to test sanitation levels.....
ARIZONA: 4 of 5 failed food businesses rated OK after re-inspections
15.mar.09
Arizona Daily Star
Dale Quinn
http://www.azstarnet.com/allheadlines/284361
Five food establishments failed health inspections and received provisional ratings in February.
For three of those — Las Cazuelitas, 234 E. 22nd St.; El Rio Bakery, 901 N. Grande Ave.; and Aqui Con El Nene, a mobile food unit — it was their first inspection with a new owner, said Sharon Browning, director of Pima County's Consumer Health and Food Safety Unit.
All three passed re-inspections.
A Domino's Pizza at 1751 W. Ajo Way and Taqueria Jenny's, 4207 S. Sixth Ave., also failed. Taqueria Jenny's passed its follow-up inspection but results from the Domino's re-inspection are pending, said Browning.
Domino's Pizza, 1751 W. Ajo Way
Failed Feb. 13 inspection. Results from a re-inspection are pending.
Rick Rhoads, the supervisor of Domino's in the Tucson area, did not respond with comments about any specific violations, but he said all were corrected within 72 hours.
Critical violations
•The inspector saw a live roach, at least 10 baby roaches — also alive — and one dead roach. The baby roaches were found in "what looks like corn meal" in a gap behind the cover along the base of the wall. The restaurant was ordered to clean food debris from under tables, counters and shelves and make repairs to prevent insects and rodents from getting inside.
• A spatula in a crate with clean utensils had dried food encrusted on it, and the crate itself had food crumbs in it. Utensils and equipment should be clean to the sight and touch....
