lehigh county restaurant inspections

Problems that can't be immediately fixed will be given a deadline, usually a month or two, in which a surprise follow-up inspection will be conducted. -Ice machines were observed to have a dark mold-like residue on corners of ice chutes. It is also offering inspections outside of normal business hours (Monday-Friday 8 a.m. - 5 p.m., excluding holidays) upon written request from the applicant at an additional cost. Corrected. -Various cut vegetables and sandwich toppings in the cook line bain marie area stored open with no covering. Monitor all canned goods and remove all dented and distressed cans from use. Corrected. You can use the database to. Slime residue on drive-through soda fountain ice chute, lid of burger bain marie and elsewhere. Inspection notes: No detectable concentration of chlorine in the solution in which the wiping cloths were stored; individual was observed eating in the kitchen; paper towel dispenser at the hand sink at the front service counter was empty; cutting board was not sanitized after being washed; fruit flies were observed in the kitchen. This will show the violations from the last inspection, the comments from the inspector and give you an idea why that violation is important. Label all storage containers with the name of the food and the date on which it was prepared. Follow him on Twitter @SteveNovakLVL and Facebook. Steve Novak may be reached at snovak@lehighvalleylive.com. Soups were discarded. -Food employee was going to wash hands at the prep sink rather than the designated hand wash sink. Corrected, -Observed 3 handwash sinks with empty towels dispensers in the Bakery Dept. Its a little bit disheartening because at the end of the day, the guy says jump, Ive got to jump -- whether it makes sense or not, because he holds all the cards., Salmon and tuna in a refrigerated case.Don Treeger | The Republican, Address: 2299 Golden Key Road, Weisenberg Township. To read full reports on each inspection, visit https://www.pafoodsafety.pa.gov/Web/Inspection/PublicInspectionSearch.aspx. Inspection notes: Employee was observed going between cleaning and food preparation while wearing the same gloves; employee observed handling raw animal proteins then touching ready-to-eat foods while wearing the same gloves; bottled beverages stored in ice used as an ingredient in drinks; pizza stored in the kitchen beside the pizza oven without temperature control or records of cooking time or discard time; mop stored so that the head is stored directly on top of a box of bamboo skewers and condiment packages. Gap in rear door could allow access for insects or rodents. Walk-in freezer drain not functioning, stalagmite-like ice infiltrating bagged food. The inspections cover restaurants, cafeterias, food markets, processors and other food establishments. Raw proteins such as uncooked beef and pork must be stored below ready to eat product. The inspections cover restaurants, cafeterias, food markets, processors and other food establishments. 7115 ROUTE 873 SLATINGTON, PA 18080. -Food Employee observed donning single use gloves without a prior hand wash. Wash hands prior to donning single use gloves. Door gaskets on bain marie cooler repaired with packing tape. Response: A message left for comment was not returned. Grill and fryer dirty with food debris and encrusted grease. Mold and food residue seen on juice machine. Corrected. Were trying to answer the perception that comes with the prior years inspections and show the staff is responsible and diligent, he says. Corrected. The Allentown Health Bureau licenses and inspects all retail food establishments in the City of Allentown including restaurants, caterers, markets, convenience stores, clubs, mobile food vehicles, temporary food stands, non-profit food facilities, churches, food banks, food vending machines and anywhere food is sold or distributed to the end consumer. Once again, lehighvalleylive.com crunched the numbers to see who had the most violations in 2019 and find out what they did to correct problems, both big and small. -Observed chicken, pastellios, and sausage being stored in the hot hold unit at 126F, 100F, & 101F, respectfully. Additionally, cream was observed in the reach in bar fridge at 47F. Inspection notes: Ready-to-eat food stored near hand-washing sink, where it could be splashed; mechanical ware washing equipment has lime-like residue; water-damaged ceiling tiles in customer seating area; sliced cheese seen on hot line shelves discolored (discarded immediately). Refrigerators, freezers, stoves and food preparation equipment, including working tables were also replaced with more updated and more efficient equipment and furnishings. Date mark TCS foods. The full inspection report is available from that same screen. -An open employee's beverage container was observed in a food preparation/serving area. Kelly McEwan | For lehighvalleylive.comKelly McEwan | For lehighvalleylive.com, Address: 7720 Main St. Unit 7, Upper Macungie Township. Imitation crab meat labeled as crab meat. 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. Roaches in all stages of life cycle observed under metal sheeting/shelving area behind three bay sink, under back splash to three bay sink and scrap out area at ware washer and on inverted milk crate used for heavily soiled food processor. Food buildup seen on cutting blocks, cutting boards and other food prep surfaces. Place fried items on an alternative surface to absorb the oil. To read full reports on each inspection, visit. He says corporate provided documentation for the menu and other corrections were implemented quickly. Inspection notes: Improper use of rodenticide in dry storage area; food in walk-in and cooler on cook's line stored without covering; fridge on cook's line not working, requires repair or replacement; various foods stored too warm or improperly. Also, at the time of the inspection, violations are recorded but are often corrected on site prior to the inspector leaving the establishment. -Food Employee observed donning single use gloves without a prior hand wash. Description: Dirt buildup on wash trays for cups and glasses. Still, he said the Italian restaurant is taking steps to ensure that those do not appear again -- the entire kitchen staff has health certifications, rather than the required one person in charge. Each inspection report is a "snapshot" of conditions present at the time of the inspection. Do not allow hot food to remain at room temperature. If you're dining and see something questionable -- say, insects or vermin, cleaning supplies on a serving surface like a salad bar, or animals in the serving area -- you can call the Pennsylvania Agriculture Department at 866-366-3723 or fill out an online complaint form on the department's consumer protection page. City of Allentown - 435 Hamilton Street - 610-439-5999 Employees not properly washing hands; handwash sink not easily accessible. Produce must be stored above raw chicken and beef. The truth of the matter is that there was no contaminated or hazardous food found during the inspection! LEHIGH COUNTY. Display cooler not maintaining temperature. Results of food safety inspections in Lehigh and Northampton counties for the week of January 7-13. . Restaurant's response: Nick, who did not provide a last name, insisted the violations were from "three years ago" not 2018 and was "not interested" in speaking to a reporter. The city tells me I got to do it, I got to do it, he says. More than 90% of inspections found restaurants to be in compliance with health standards as of the end of 2019, according to the state database. Checking one place in the morning when everything is "nice and neat" can be very different from an inspection during the "controlled chaos" of a diner's lunch rush. I'm 51 years old and I've been doing this since I was 16. That would had been a cause to immediately shut down the restaurant in my opinion.". Remove the cans from use. A bucket of sanitizing solution was stored in the hand washing sink.. Keep all potentially . It is rare that health inspectors will immediately close a restaurant; that requires "an imminent risk to human health" like vermin or a sewer backup, Powers said. Washing equipment had buildup of filth and food residue and not cleaned before use. Wooden pizza paddles and fridge gaskets held together with duct tape. Corrected. Address: 2960 Center Valley Parkway, Upper Saucon Township. Response: Employees said a manager could talk about inspections, but that person did not return calls for comment. Peter Litos, the new owner, said he immediately addressed old problems like the location of the ice machine and food shelves. throughout facility; several food products in the ice cream area, kitchen, walk-in cooler area stored open with no covering; observed kitchen cooking equipment with encrusted grease and soil accumulation. -The handwash sink behind the front counter does not have water at a temperature of at least 100 degrees F. Fix the hand sink so that water with a temperature of at least 100 degrees F is available at all times. -Soups were not cooled from 135 degrees F to 41 degrees F within 6 hours, after preparation. Do not store knives in the space between tables. Restaurant owners and managers told us that a vast majority of the problems uncovered are minor, things that can and often were corrected on the spot or at least fairly soon after. Begin to use the optional sanitizing solution in the rinse water until the machine can be repaired and the proper temperature is reached in the final rinse water. Restaurant inspections are now available online from 2005 to the present. "It's just some minor stuff. -Potentially hazardous ready-to-eat food prepared in the food facility and held for more than 48 hours, located in the display cooler, is not being date marked. There was no immediate response from a call for comment to Pizza Hut media relations. Address: 4128 W. Tilghman St., South Whitehall Township. Some food not heated or stored at proper temperature. Employees failed to wash hands, lacked hair and beard nets. Welcome To Weisenberg Township. Restaurant's response: A call for comment was not immediately returned. Plumbing needs repair. A health inspector in Harrisburg checks a bar. Chicken seen thawing in prep sink with no running water. Response: A manager deferred to the owners son, who did not return a call for comment. Chicken was reheated. Cloth towels may not be used as a food contact surface. Response: An employee who answered the phone said they werent interested in speaking to a reporter about the inspection violations. Results for each one are published in an online database by the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture. of Agriculture Food Safety Inspection database. Address: 327 Star Road, Upper Macungie Township. Here is a . A temperature of 146F was registered on a maximum registering thermometer. And we asked the restaurants with the most violations (20 or more) what they've done to fix the problems cited. Repair or replace the affected units. This is to be cleaned and sanitized and then replaced. To access the inspection reports you may have to change your computer's settings to allow pop-ups. Dishes not cleaned properly; sanitizer not applied correctly, food production bowls used instead of sink bays. Calls to a managers cellphone were not returned. Address: 1801 Lehigh St., Allentown Violations: 21 Inspection notes: Improper use of rodenticide in dry storage area; food in walk-in and cooler on cook's line stored without covering; fridge. Cutting blocks deeply scored and encrusted with black mold and mildew and dried food; black mold seen inside ice machine. Local laws regulate how frequently these inspections take place, and what specific items the inspectors look for, but, in general, environmental health inspectors check that safeguards are in. 346 RIDGE AVE Allentown, PA 18102 Date: 10/11/19 Inspection Type: Complaint Compliance: Out Violation (s): 5 Comments: -Food Employee observed eating food in the hot service area. A message left for a person in charge was not returned. Restaurant's response: Owner George Draklellis said that numbers don't tell the whole story; some places may be inspected multiple times a year depending on what health department has jurisdiction (he said Allentown checks his diner three or four times), which can mean more violations. Response: A local manager said the leadership at the restaurant has recently changed. -Knives were stored in between prep tables. Response: A manager says that his restaurant has complied with everything the city has required. -No sign or poster was posted at the hand washing sink in the employees restroom to remind food employees to wash their hands. "We're trying our best," Metin said. 1600 CEDAR CREST BLVD ALLENTOWN, PA 18104. Health inspectors conducted more than 3,700 assessments of 3,000 food-service facilities in the Lehigh Valley in 2019, uncovering 8,000 violations. Food thermometer not available or accessible. They ran the gamut from the gross (roaches, mold) to the mundane (missing hair nets, mops stored incorrectly) and the odd (a wooden log in a kitchen). Mold and mildew under prep equipment, in walk-in cooler and beverage cooler. Inspection notes: Ice machine has black and pink slime (turned off until follow-up); moldy food in walk-in cooler, some stored without lids; dirty, "uncleanable" strainers; dust, dirt, residue on equipment and floors; cutting boards, baking equipment not cleaned regularly, evidenced by old food/mold growth; live roach seen; leaky plumbing; live fruit flies in bar area; 2 dead fruit flies floating in liquor bottle. Hands must be washed at the designated hand wash sink. Foods not stored at appropriate temperatures or properly dated. Description: Employee observed preparing raw meat products feeding into ware washer and returning to service once again failing to wash hands." Since then things are significantly different now that were fully staffed., Address: 4128 W. Tilghman St., South Whitehall Township, Description: Management lacking in food safety documentation, including license renewal and parasite destruction records for sushi fish. Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. -The Person in Charge does not have adequate knowledge of food safety in this food facility as evidenced by this non-compliant inspection. Only use hand washing sinks for handwashing. Raw, frozen fish being stored in old ice cream/dairy containers and other food containers which may result in allergen cross contamination. Raw chicken and eggs stored in walk-in cooler above ready-to-eat produce. Follow him on Twitter @KurtBresswein and Facebook. Here are the results of food safety inspections in Lehigh and Northampton counties for the week of Feb. 16-22. Lozano said that overall he is very proud of his staff and location, both of which get good reviews online. Closing the restaurant was overkill and not necessary, especially since everything could had been corrected on the spot and after the closing hour (during the night and overnight) when we close the restaurant. Restaurant inspections The Colorado Department of Health and Environment (CDPHE) publishes inspection reports for restaurants, fast food operations, delis, markets, cafeterias, convenience stores and other types of retail food establishments we or our delegated county partners have inspected. Cockroach and rodent droppings were observed in the kitchen area underneath bags of rice and behind the refrigerators.. ", Jan Somma-Hammel | Staten Island Advance file photo, Address: 2880 Center Valley Road, Upper Saucon Township. Rewash this piece of equipment. Response: A manager deferred to the corporate office, which did not return a call or email seeking comment. -Half & Half was held at 48 degrees F, in a small display cooler at the front counter, rather than 41 degrees F or below as required. Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. The restaurant was reopened for business the very next day. Address: 3400 Airport Road, Hanover Township (Lehigh County). Food product must be stored in a covered state to prevent contamination. -No sign or poster posted at the handwash sink in both restroom areas to remind food employees to wash their hands. Use of this area must cease immediately. There are other violations not listed here that are classified under Good Retail Practices. Visit the link above to see the full list of violations among all categories. Restaurant response: Everything identified by inspectors has been corrected, owner Eddie Lozano said, though he added that perhaps they should have been fixed faster. (COMING SOON: LEHIGH VALLEY RESTAURANTS WITH NO HEALTH CODE VIOLATIONS IN 2019). All facilities that prepare, serve, sell or give away food are required to have a food service establishment license issued by the Allentown Health Bureau. -Paper towel dispenser empty at the handwash sink in the front counter/prep area. For more information on how the inspections are conducted, view a list of FAQs. ", Address: 3229 Hamilton Blvd., South Whitehall Township. -Items were observed to be out of temperature in the pull out drawers below the bain marie units along the cook line. Inspection notes: Lack of active managerial control regarding proper reheating operations; build up of spilled food, brown congealed oil on the floor under the fryer line; hand sink at the sushi bar has minimal hot water due to failing ring or valve; numerous food containers including shellfish stored directly on floor in walk in cooler. Description: Kitchen walls, equipment, storage containers, tables were found not to be clean. Employee handling chicken with latex rubber gloves, not disposal gloves. LEHIGH COUNTY. All violations were corrected within 48 hours," owner John Pittas said by email. Employee seen eating at work station adjacent to food prep bench. Chives stored in ice bin used for drinks. Description: Employees were not washing their hands when switching tasks. "We weren't using it but it was in an area where it could be used," Petropoulos said. -Egg rolls and chicken in the refrigerator next to the front counter, and food stored in the walk-in cooler are stored with no covering or a covering that is not placed properly to fully cover the food. Sanitarian or regional office at least ten (10) days prior to operation to arrange a licensing inspection. Floor area of the food facility is extremely dirty, dusty, and in need of cleaning. Discard the milk. Use of and/or registration on any portion of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement, Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement, and Your Privacy Choices and Rights (each updated 1/26/2023). As examples, he pointed to rules to keep canned goods off the floor, even if theyre closed, and the need to keep racks for glasses, even if empty of glasses, on a shelf rather than on the floor. ", (SEE THE 2017 RESTAURANT VIOLATIONS LIST). Moldy cucumbers found in walk-in. Fridge thermometer not available or accessible. Restaurant's response: Did not respond to messages or an email by deadline. Restaurant's response: "We correct(ed) a lot of violations at the time. Response: An employee answering the phone says the restaurant took some time to fix everything and reopened. -Warm beans with temperatures ranging from 96-116F were placed into a hot holding cabinet instead of a walk-in cooler. The 2019 inspections, he felt, focused on things that may not routinely apply to a 35-seat diner or a mom-and-pop restaurant, such as putting up a staff-only sign over the kitchen linked to bioterrorism concerns, or listing every ingredient in packaged food made on the premises and sold in the general store. Handwash sink blocked by dirty dish containers and food bins. Italiano Delite Inc. 1985 BROOKSIDE RD MACUNGIE, PA 18062 . -Paper towel dispensers were empty at the handwash sinks at the service counter and kitchen cook line. Food stored in walk-in not properly labeled, dated or covered. Disclaimer: According to the Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Laboratory Services division, "inspections are a 'snapshot' of the day and time of the inspection. Most restaurants are revealed to have at least a few violations in a given year, a lot of them fairly minor. -The brush used for spreading the garlic oil was encrusted with old garlic and oil residue. I'm in compliance.". Plumbing system not maintained in good repair - observed water filter leaking at the ice machine. Food workers not wearing hair restraints. Observed slow/clogged drain at the the . Tweet; Share. This room was not proposed /existing at the time of the opening inspection. -Steaks are served raw or undercooked to the customers request; however, a written consumer advisory (on the menu, table tent, or placard) is not provided to the consumer. 201, south. A cooler that wasn't maintaining temperature of 40 degrees was scheduled for repair, but led to two re-inspections in the meantime. Label all food with the name of the food and the date on which it was prepared. He also said some requirements, such as wrapping all silverware, aren't enforced in other inspection jurisdictions. Please understand that each inspection is a "snapshot" representing conditions observed on the day and time of the inspection. -Refrigerated, ready-to-eat time/temperature control for safety foods such as raw, cut produce, raw cut meats, sliced cheeses, etc, located in the walk-in refrigerator and held more than 24 hours is not being marked with the date it was opened. Restaurant's response: Fast food franchises can be different from other restaurants because they go through more inspections -- not just the health department, but also from the franchise organization and corporate, said Doug Bishop, director of operations for the 11-restaurant franchise that includes this Hamilton Boulevard McDonald's. "If you look at the responsiveness, we took things very seriously and are taking corrective action," he said. Inspection reports of food facilities in Allentown are available for public access on the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture website; this website works best with Google Chrome. Inspection notes: "Person in Charge does not have adequate knowledge of food safety in this food facility as evidenced by" non-compliant inspection Nov. 1, 2018; roach infestation both live and dead and observed on counters, bain-marie and various equipment; evidence of roach feces on walls, on food boxes, etc. This guy just caught us from left field. Dessert cooler not maintaining temperature. -The hand wash sink in the kitchen was observed to have a dirty pan in it. Silicon glue and WD-40 were observed in the active kitchen area stored next to to-go containers and above food product. Foods not stored at proper temperatures. The inspections listed here are those that fall under the jurisdiction of the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture, as well as those county and local health departments that have elected to post results in the departments statewide inspection database. throughout facility. Address: 233 N. Route 100, Upper Macungie Township. Various food not stored or cooled at appropriate temperatures. Assorted food products were observed being stored directly on the floor of the walk in refrigerator and walk in freezer. Food containers not labeled with contents. Food thermometers not available or accessible.