Recent Health Inspections Highlight Common Food Safety Issues at Local Eateries
Local health inspectors recently visited various food and drink establishments to check on safety and cleanliness. These routine visits help ensure that the food served to the public is prepared safely. The findings from these visits show a mix of minor issues and more serious problems. Many of these issues were fixed immediately while inspectors were on-site.
The inspection results offer a brief look at the conditions of these businesses on the day of the visit. They may not represent the overall, everyday cleanliness of each establishment.
Temperature Control and Food Storage Issues
Keeping food at the correct temperature and storing it properly are key to preventing illness. Inspectors found several locations struggling with these standards:
- A Lansdale Brewery on Madison Street: This business used cardboard to line shelves inside a walk-in cooler. They also kept bulk food in its original opened packaging instead of transferring it to sealed, food-safe containers.
- A Donut Shop on Welsh Road in Huntingdon Valley: Clean areas were cluttered with dirty dishes. A sandwich prep drawer was too warm, keeping food at unsafe temperatures. This same refrigerator issue had been noted during a previous inspection. Additionally, stirring spoons were kept in standing water, ice was building up in the freezer, and a refrigerator door seal was torn.
- A Pottstown Diner on West King Street: This location did not have a certified food safety manager on staff. Inspectors found hash browns sitting out at room temperature and the back door left wide open. Food boxes were stored directly on the floor, and utensils sat in stagnant water. Other issues included a leaking prep cooler, a lack of hot water in one restroom sink, a loose faucet, open trash bins, missing ceiling tiles, and dirty floors under the cooking line.
- A Pottstown Restaurant on Shoemaker Road: Handwashing sinks lacked soap and paper towels, and one sink was being used to store food and a sponge. The business could not show a proper 90-day supply of records for its seafood, and raw meat was stored directly above ready-to-eat food in the cooler. The dishwasher did not have enough sanitizer, foods lacked date labels, and a fly strip was hanging in the kitchen. Additionally, produce was washed in the wrong sink, food boxes were on the floor, and knives were stored in tight gaps between counters.
Sanitation and Structural Concerns
Clean surfaces and proper building maintenance help keep pests away and stop the spread of germs. Inspectors noted several violations related to cleanliness and repairs:
- A Hatboro Tavern on York Road: Inspectors found a gap under the front doors that could let pests inside. They also noticed that the sanitizing spray for cleaning cloths was too weak, and there were gaps between the walls and several sinks.
- An Elkins Park Cafe on Cheltenham Avenue: Cooking utensils had built-up food residue, and there were no time logs for food left out of the refrigerator. Inspectors also found damaged ceiling tiles in the basement and loose floor tiles in the cooking area.
- A Hatboro Eatery on South York Road: This business failed to display a sign letting customers know they could request the latest health report. The dishwasher lacked enough sanitizer, and the ice machine had mold-like buildup. Knives were wedged in table cracks, wet test strips were used to check sanitizer levels, and a prep sink lacked the required plumbing gap to prevent dirty water backflow.
- A Harleysville Golf Club on Clubhouse Drive: The ice machine splash guard was dirty, and the dishwasher sanitizer was initially too weak. Food on a prep table was too warm and had to be thrown away. Food boxes were also found on the cooler floor, and a refrigerator door seal was torn.
- A Barto Establishment on Hoffmansville Road: This location did not have a certified food safety manager on staff.
- A Norristown Lunch Spot on Johnson Highway: There was no soap at the handwashing station. Food in a prep cooler was too warm and had to be thrown away. Utensils were stored incorrectly, the sides of cooking equipment were dirty, dust had gathered on a ceiling vent, and a wet mop was left sitting on the floor instead of being hung up to dry.
- A Maple Glen Pizza Shop on Welsh Road: This shop was operating without an active health license and lacked a certified food manager. An employee's drink was sitting on a food prep surface, and the handwashing sink was blocked, lacked soap and towels, and was not being used. Knives and other utensils were not being washed between uses, and there were no time logs for food items left out.