A restaurant in southern Columbia was forced to temporarily close last week after it couldn’t pay reinspection fees.
Ocha Thai (510 Green Meadows Road, Suite 101) had to put up closed signs until approximately 4 p.m. on June 18, after the Columbia/Boone County Department of Public Health and Human Services confirmed the restaurant had paid a $110 reinspection fee. The restaurant had corrected health code violations dating back to April, but the fee was still outstanding.
PHHS previously said routine inspections are conducted two to three times a year, based on a Columbia restaurant’s priority and location. If significant violations are found, follow-up inspections are conducted. Reporting is from June 18 through Monday. No inspection was conducted on June 19 due to the Juneteenth celebration.
If the restaurant doesn’t correct, a second follow-up will be conducted, this time with a $110 re-inspection fee. Restaurants can usually correct non-critical violations before their next scheduled inspection. Non-critical violations can also result in a re-inspection fee or license suspension. This happened last month when Delia’s Mexican Grill (201 N. 10th St.) failed to turn in records of staff food manager certifications and food handler cards.
Second re-examination
Four other Columbia restaurants are facing a second reinspection, which could come with fines, for failing to address issues during previous reinspections.
On June 20, inspectors found the ice machine at the Gunter Hans store at 7 Hitt St. was still dirty and there was no hot water coming out of the back hand washing sink. A repeat inspection was scheduled for Friday. These issues were discovered during a June 11 inspection.
Hot Box Cookies, 1013 E. Broadway, had not yet filed a food control certificate as of June 20 after a previous routine inspection. Health inspectors will visit again on Thursday and charge fees. Inspectors noticed the bakery had not submitted a rescheduling request prior to the June 20 reinspection.
McDonald’s, 3206 Clark Lane, has until Wednesday to obtain test strips for its hydrogen peroxide-based disinfectant. For a routine inspection on June 4, and subsequent inspections on June 18 and June 21, test strips were not available and a fee was charged.
Fazoli’s, 1114 I-70 Drive SW, had still not addressed a dirty ice machine on Monday after a routine inspection on June 20. A second reinspection was scheduled for Thursday.
The restaurant had other major issues last week, when inspectors found food stored past its disposal date, all of which was thrown out during a June 20 inspection.
Staff were also thawing frozen foods on the counter, instead of in the refrigerator, under running water or in the microwave as part of a continuous cooking process. Food that was left outside was moved to the refrigerator and food safety training was also conducted. Towels used to sanitize surfaces were placed outside of the bucket of sanitizing solution instead of being stored inside it. This issue was also addressed on June 20. Employees’ personal food items were moved from above food in the restaurant. A broken ice machine should be repaired by October.
Other Recent Reexaminations
Health inspectors confirmed on June 20 that I’m Korean Bbq and Sushi, located at 4603 John Garry Drive, Suite 3, now has a food management certificate, something it did not have in April.
50 Yard Line Sports Bar & Grill, 807 E. Walnut, confirmed with inspectors on June 20 that it now has test strips for a hydrogen peroxide-based disinfectant that was not on-site on June 12 and June 18.
Temperature and time issues in routine inspections
Health inspectors spoke with management at the McDonald’s at 205 Business Loop 70 E. on June 21 after finding that a cooler storing bacon next to the grill station did not have a timestamp log. The bacon was timestamped during the inspection. The location has until Wednesday to address ice buildup in the fry freezer. Inspectors also had proactive discussions with management about updating the binder that stores food control certificates and employee food handler cards monthly. This includes removing previous employee food handler cards and placing new employee food handler cards inside and updating current employee cards if they are expired.
On June 18, chicken, chopped tomatoes, and corn salsa were not kept at or below 41 degrees Fahrenheit in one of the salad and sandwich making stations at McAllister’s Deli (1205 Grindstone Parkway). These items were discarded during the inspection. Food temperatures, including those previously cited, were maintained in a lower, accessible area of the same cooler. Inspectors were supposed to recheck this Tuesday, but their report has not yet been issued. At this time, inspectors were also supposed to check whether the restaurant had purchased concentration test strips for a hydrogen peroxide-based sanitizer. On June 18, boxes of food were found to be placed on the floor of the walk-in freezer, instead of six inches high. This was not critical, but was corrected during the inspection. The next scheduled inspection is in August.
Other periodic inspections
To Go Sandwiches, 308 S. Ninth St., found several critical violations during Monday’s inspection. Inspectors found a dirty ice chute, a missing sanitizer concentration test strip and no air gaps in the three compartments and vegetable washing sink. There must be an air gap between the floor drain and the inlet pipe that is at least twice the diameter of the inlet pipe. The eatery had until Thursday to correct these issues. Active discussions have been held with management about cleaning or replacing ceiling tiles when they become soiled. Inspectors should also check food manager certifications and food handler cards during reinspections.
Details: This Columbia restaurant had its license temporarily revoked last week.
Pho Quan Viet Cuisine (2016 Paris Road) had one non-critical violation on June 18, which they expect to be able to correct before their next routine inspection in October. Trash cans in women’s restrooms must be covered, or the restaurant must purchase a separate covered container for disposing of feminine hygiene products. They also discussed food storage parameters with management. Eggs may be stored above raw meats, but must be stored below cooked foods. The eggs were moved during the inspection. Inspectors also discussed monitoring food temperatures to ensure hot foods are stored at or above 135 degrees Fahrenheit. Some of the fried chicken was slightly below this temperature.
Only one restaurant was reported with no violations during a routine inspection: Red Lobster, located at 1110 I-70 Drive SW, on June 18.
Previously: This downtown eatery placed raw meat above other foods during an inspection last week
