LANSING — 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. Follow-up inspections and reports may consequently happen.
In most cases, the violations are corrected, and this information isn’t an indication that violations at any establishment are still an ongoing issue.
Here are the most serious violations in Ingham County for eating establishments in the second half of May:
Six priority violations and six priority foundation violations were found at:
Persis Indian Grill, 3536 Meridian Crossing Drive, Okemos
Violations included no handwashing between certain tasks, no paper toweling at handsinks, raw shell eggs over ready to eat foods in a cooler, temperature issues with foods including fried onions and cauliflower, putty knives being used on a grill, and not enough backflow prevention. The person in charge is unable to demonstrate knowledge of cleaning, rinsing and sanitizing process for three compartment sink. Numerous containers of food lacked date marking. Can opener and dicing press/slicer had an accumulation of food debris and soil.
Five priority violations and eight priority foundation violations were found at:
Kimchi Box, 527 E. Grand River Ave., East Lansing
Violations included no handwashing was seen, no designated person in charge, raw chicken and raw shell eggs were being stored over ready-to-eat sauce and raw pork was coming into contact with a prep table and chest freezer that was not washed, rinsed, and sanitized before or after use. Temperature issues: House made soy sauce with fresh garlic was in a bucket at 73 degrees, not cold held below 41 degrees. A spray bottle of glass cleaner was being stored on top of chest freezer where food prep of raw pork was also happening. No date marking for corn dogs. No chlorine test kit. A handwashing sink intended only for handwashing hand sink held a measuring cup and food debris in the basin.
Five priority violations and six priority foundation violations were found at:
Ironwood Links, 742 N. Eifert Road, Mason
Violations included “not washing hands before donning gloves after going from dish washing back to food preparation and after handling raw ground beef and then changing tasks.” Also, there was no certified facility manager, raw shell eggs and beef patties were being stored over ready-to-eat foods, prep surfaces weren’t being sanitized after being washed, temperature issues with taco meat and coleslaw, not enough backflow prevention, no date marking for cooked taco meat, hot dogs, and soft cheeses and no soap or toweling at handwashing sinks.
Five priority violations and two priority foundation violations were found at:
The Parish, 100 W. Grand River Ave., Webberville
An employee was seen donning gloves without first washing hands. Whipped dessert parfaits were in a front display cooler at more than 50 degrees. Chlorine chemical sanitizing concentration in a dish machine was at less than 50ppm, rather than between 50 and 100 ppm. Not enough backflow prevention. Other violations included an accumulation of soil on the meat slicer and a handsink intended only for handwashing holding plastic pans/trays.
Four priority violations and four priority foundation violations were found at:
Uni Sushi & Ramen, 2843 E. Grand River Ave., East Lansing
No handwashing seen. Storage issues including raw tuna salads placed over ready-to-eat food in the cooler. Temperature issues: Raw fish and other food items registered up to 47 degrees under refrigeration. Chlorine solution in the sanitizer sink was at 150 ppm, instead of 50 to 100 ppm. No date marking on potentially hazardous foods. Labels with dates and four-hour time stamps also were missing on food items. Cleanliness: Ice machine cross plate had a brown organic accumulation. The meat grinder had food pieces on the inside of the holes even though it is reportedly cleaned after every use, and soy sauce buckets holding other food had food residue throughout the exterior. A handsink was being blocked by a trash can and a stove with a large pot of liquid set on top. A sushi prep hand sink was holding wiping cloths.
Four priority violations and two priority foundation violations were found at:
Summerlands Brewing Co., 1957 Cedar St., Holt
Temperature issues with reheated foods. Pimento cheese, housemade sauces, and whipped butter had expired date marks. Plumbing repairs were needed. Chlorine being used during the inspection in a temporary dishwashing set up was not approved for food contact surfaces. Turkey lunch meat did not have a date mark. A test kit was not being used, and chlorine concentration was more than 200 parts per million.
Three priority violations and three priority foundation violations were found at:
Eldorado Golf Course, 3750 W. Howell Road, Mason
Temperature issues considering cold potentially hazardous foods are required to be at or below 41 degrees Fahrenheit and hot potentially hazardous foods are supposed to be at or above 135 degrees: Mac and cheese and opened orange juice stored in walk-in cooler were at 45 degrees. Sanitizer concentration for chlorine in the dish machine was at zero part per million (ppm). Canned food(s) were being stored on the same shelf as bulk chemicals. No date marking for opened lunch meat, cooked chicken, and soft cheeses. A chlorine test kit was not available. Working containers of chemicals in spray bottles were not labeled with contents.
Three priority violations and a priority foundation violation were found at:
Lou and Harry’s Grill & Bakery, 1429 W. Saginaw St., East Lansing
Temperature issues: Salads, lasagna and pasta registered more than 41 degrees under refrigeration. Missing and expired date marking. Sanitizer concentration for chlorine in the dish machine was at 25 ppm and needed adjusting. No toweling was available for a hand sink.
Two priority violations and three priority foundation violations were found at:
Altu’s Ethiopian Cuisine, 1312 E. Michigan Ave., East Lansing
Two priority violations for not enough backflow prevention. No date marking for cooked chicken and pinto beans. No soap or toweling at a few hand sinks.
Two priority violations and two priority foundation violations were found at:
U Like Chinese, 5025 S. Cedar St., Lansing
In coolers, raw shell eggs and meats were being stored over and next to ready-to-eat foods. A pesticide “bug stop” was being stored in the facility. Several containers of cooked chicken in the walk in cooler lacked date markings. A handwashing sink intended only for handwashing held a stainless steel scrubber.
Two priority violations and a priority foundation violation were found at:
Bravo, 2970 Town Centre Blvd., Lansing
Temperature issues: Under refrigeration, foods including raw meats, cheeses, cooked zucchini, cooked sweet potato, cut tomatoes, and cooked orzo registered 43 to 50 degrees under refrigeration. A sanitizer concentration was 0 ppm and there was no sanitizer for sanitizing glassware connected to the automatic dosing machine. A sanitizer bucket was being stored in a handwashing sink.
Korea House Restaurant, 978 Trowbridge Road, East Lansing
Cross contamination risks due to placement of raw meats in coolers. Temperature issues: Kimchi registered about 70 degrees in a cooler and tofu, cooked beef, and cooked mushrooms were over 45 degrees. “Facility does not possess approved variance or written fermentation procedures for specialized processing operation.”
One North Kitchen & Bar, 1310 Abbot Road, East Lansing
Temperature issues with various items in a fridge holding at 48 degrees. Hot water sanitization dish machine at an inside bar was not getting to a proper temperature to sanitize glasses. Handwashing sink intended only for handwashing held food debris.
Two priority violations were found at:
Capital City BBQ, 1026 W. Saginaw St., Lansing
A water bottle was being used to connect pipes below the prep sink and not enough backflow prevention. Not enough backflow prevention.
Grains Indian Cuisine, 1601 S. Waverly Road, Lansing
A large bag of rotting carrots was found in the walk-in cooler. Raw foods were being stored over ready-to-eat foods in coolers.
A priority violation and four priority foundation violations were found at:
SpringHill Suites, 1100 Trowbridge Road, East Lansing
Temperature issues: Shredded cheese, cream cheese, whipped cream, and salsa verde registered 46 to 62 degrees. Whole apples displayed at the self-service station lacked a method to minimize hand contact, such as tongs, tissue papers, or individual wrapping. Incorrect date marking for eggs and cheese. Trash blocked a handsink. A handsink lacked paper toweling.
A priority violation and two priority foundation violations were found at:
Ben Davis Concession Stand, 5500 Pleasant Grove Road, Lansing
Not enough backflow prevention. The person in charge couldn’t provide a chlorine test kit. Soap wasn’t available at a handwashing station.
Dusty’s Cellar, 1839 W. Grand River Ave., Okemos
Temperature issues: Fried onions were at 77 degrees. “Salmon box is labeled ‘farm raised.’ Salmon is reportedly offered cooked to order/undercooked as per customer request. No documentation of being raised in open water/net-pens/land based operations and fed ONLY formulated feed pellets that contain NO live parasites infective to the aquacultured fish, OR documentation that they have been frozen for proper time and temperature parameters to destroy parasites.” A bar handsink intended only for handwashing was reportedly being used for rinsing bar items.
Dusty’s Tap Room, 1857 W. Grand River Ave., Okemos
The sanitizer label indicated that the cleaner/chemical required a rinse after contact with food contact surfaces, indicating that “this is NOT approved as a sanitizer for use with food contact surfaces.” Water supply at a handsink was turned off. A handwashing sink lacked soap.
Square One Breakfast & Bakery, 4790 S. Hagadorn Road, East Lansing
A gallon of 2% milk was over 41 degrees. No date marking for multiple items. The dough mixer’s food−contact surfaces had encrusted food accumulations.
A priority violation and a priority foundation violation were found at:
A&W, 628 N. Cedar St., Mason
Two violations for cooling and cooling methods used for chili.
Foster Coffee Company, 196 Albert Ave., East Lansing
Not enough backflow prevention. Mats and a mop were partially blocking a sink intended only for handwashing.
Stateside Deli, 3552 Meridian Crossing Drive, Okemos
There was pooling water at a kitchen floor drain and at the front counter floor drain. The person in charge “voluntarily suspended service and informed staff that no new customers were to be seated/or served until resolution of the drain issue. Plumber attended to drain issue and cleaning was conducted.” Portions of cheesecake, tiramisu and other dessert items in a display cooler and other desserts on the counter, available for “grab and go,” did not have common allergens listed and/or lacked any labels or had incomplete labels.
A priority violation was found at:
Biggby Coffee, 4756 Marsh Road, Okemos
Temperature issues: Orange juice registered 47 degrees and mango concentrate registered 48 degrees.
Blaze Pizza, 300 N. Clippert St., Lansing
Temperature issues: Portioned cups of ranch in a cooler and sliced ham on a prep table registered about 50 degrees.
Dairy Queen, 3906 S. Cedar St., Lansing
Temperature issues: Under refrigeration, yogurt drink mix was being stored at 46 degrees.
Foxtail Coffee, 431 E. Grand River Ave., East Lansing
Sandwiches and bagels were being stored in non-food-safe Sterlite containers.
Great Harvest Bakery & Cafe, 214 S. Washington Square, Lansing
Ranch, tuna, rice, and cheese were being cold held at about 50 degrees.
Ingham County Youth Center, 700 E. Jolly Road, Lansing
Fajita chicken registered 46 degrees.
JJ’s Dog House, 625 E. Michigan Ave., Lansing
Temperature issues: Cheese, cut tomatoes, and hotdogs were being cold held at about 50 degrees.
Leslie High School, 4141 S. Hull Road, Leslie
Plumbing repairs were needed.
Middle Eats, 3201 E. Grand River Ave., Lansing
Not enough backflow prevention.
Five priority foundation violations were found at:
Moka & Co., 4738 Central Park Drive, Okemos
No date marking. No thermometer in the facility for monitoring temperatures in foods. No test kit for checking sanitizer concentration levels. No toweling available at a hand sink for hand drying. Spray bottles of quaternary ammonium sanitizer and water were not labeled with contents.
Three priority foundation violations were found at:
Two priority foundation violations were found at:
Munchies, 4100 S. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., Lansing
No date marking procedures. No paper toweling was observed at a handwashing sink.
A priority foundation violation was found at:
Biggby Coffee, 1429 W. Saginaw St., Lansing
“Sliced cheese and ham being cold held at 50 (degrees) F in metal containers on top of a shallow ice bath with no observable date mark.”
Char’s Jerk Chicken & More, 1982 W. Grand River Ave., Okemos
A hand sink was being used for filling up a wash bucket with water during the inspection.
Cole Academy, 1915 W. Mt. Hope Ave., Lansing
Cans of sweet peas, fruit mix, and mandarin oranges had dents on their hermetic seals.
Fernando’s Cafe, 1587 Haslett Road, Haslett
Three olive cans were severely dented on the side/top/bottom seams.
J.W. Sexton High School, 102 S. McPherson Ave., Lansing
Cans of pineapple tidbits, beans, and pizza sauce had dents on their hermetic seals.
LaMichigan Neveria, 3407 S. Cedar St., Lansing
Multi-purpose cleaners were being stored next to crock pots hot holding food and next to food items in storage. Insulin was being stored in the single-door fridge above ready to eat foods. No date marking for cut lettuce, cut watermelon, and pico.
Spag’s Bar & Grill, 1268 E. Grand River Ave., Williamston
Items were blocking accessibility to the handsink including an electrical cord wrapped around the faucet.
Subway, 5025 S. Cedar St., Lansing
Evidence of pests included droppings throughout the facility such as under the hand sink, behind dry storage, and under prep coolers, the pop machine, the three compartment sink, and dry storage shelving. The person in charge did not have pest control reports on site but stated that they use Terminix. Only small monitoring stations/sticky traps were placed around the facility. No monitoring stations for rodents were seen. Ants were seen in a in small trap.
Swagath Indian Cuisine, 1060 Trowbridge Road, East Lansing
Handsink water in a restroom was not reaching 100 degrees.
Williamston Roadhouse, 3700 E. Grand River Ave., Williamston
“The food establishment, has been modified/equipment has been added (walk-in coolers/units have been moved and placed at the side of the building), without prior approval from the department.”
X-Golf, 4946 Marsh Road, Okemos
A test kit for quaternary ammonium was not available.
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: Inspectors find rotting carrots at Ingham County restaurant
Reporting by Susan Vela, Lansing State Journal / Lansing State Journal
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By Susan Vela, Lansing State Journal | USA TODAY Network
