CHARLOTTE — When county health inspectors visit local restaurants, they document problems that need addressing to meet standards set by Michigan food codes and law.
The most serious problems are considered priority violations, which present potential health hazards and should be corrected immediately. Priority foundation violations do not present immediate health hazards but should be corrected in a timely manner. Consequently, follow-up inspections and reports may be generated.
In most cases, violations are corrected, and this information isn’t an indication that violations at any establishment are an ongoing issue.
Here are the most serious violations found in Eaton County restaurants and eating establishments for June:
Two priority violations were found at:
Windmill Travel Center, 7262 Lansing Road, Dimondale
“An employee was observed washing hands between tasks, but only with water and for less than 20 seconds. Ensure that employees are always washing hands with soap and water for a total of at least 20 seconds.” A prep cooler near the cook line was maintaining foods above 41 degrees Fahrenheit in the bottom drawer of the unit. The bottom drawer had three cartons of eggs at 60 degrees, about 15 degrees over the requirement.
A priority violation was found at:
Cracker Barrel, 608 Commercial Drive, Lansing
Temperature issues for cold potentially hazardous foods required to register 41 degrees or less: Eight metal containers of macaroni and cheese in the walk-in cooler registering 47-51 degrees. Lids had been placed on them prematurely.
Eaton Pub & Grille, 214 S. Cochran Road, Charlotte
An iodine glass washer at the bar was not properly sanitizing dishes.
I POT, 730 Elmwood Road, Lansing
Temperature issues: “The facility’s sushi rice was observed reading 84 degrees F. The PIC stated they discarded the food items every 4 hours and that the rice was made around 10:30 AM. …If time without temperature control is used as the public health control up to a maximum of 4 hours: (1) The FOOD shall have an initial temperature of 5ºC (41ºF) or less when removed from cold holding temperature control, or 57°C (135°F) or greater when removed from hot holding temperature control.”
Joe’s Gizzard City, 120 W. Main St., Potterville
A bottle of Pepto Bismol was stored over the prep area for food items.
Little Panda Chinese Restaurant, 5439 W. Saginaw Hwy., Lansing
“An employee was observed handling soiled dishes and rinsing them with an overhead spray nozzle before moving back to the cook line to prepare food, without washing their hands in between thesetasks.”
Two priority foundation violations were found at:
Dunkin’, 8205 W. Saginaw Hwy., Lansing
Two handwashing were not providing an adequate amount of hand soap to lather with when washing hands. No probe food thermometer could be located.
House of Hsu, 639 E. Saginaw Hwy., Grand Ledge
Hand washing sinks are only meant for hand washing, and an employee was washing a tea pitcher in the front handwashing sink. “Compliance with variance, specialized process, reduced oxygen packaging criteria or HACCP plan” for fried rice and noodles.
A priority foundation violation was found at:
American Legion Post 42, 1000 W. Lawrence Hwy., Charlotte
“The kitchen handwashing sink was observed with a bus tub placed over it to drip dry and a coke can and knife stored in it. Additionally, some food scraps were observed in the bottom.”
Fairfield Inn & Suites, 810 Delta Commerce Dr., Lansing
Expired test strips.
Contact editor Susan Vela at svela@lsj.com or 248-873-7044. Follow her on Twitter @susanvela.
This article originally appeared on Lansing State Journal: Eaton County restaurant inspections: Warm eggs, mac and cheese found in coolers
Reporting by Susan Vela, Lansing State Journal / Lansing State Journal
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
