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The Charlotte Business Journal is continuing its monthly review of health code inspections for food establishments in Mecklenburg County.
Establishments listed in this review received grades of either a "B" or "C", or below a 90, when inspected during the month of April, according to data pulled May 3 from the N.C. Public Health Inspections' online database. Restaurants, food stands, mobile-food operators and push carts are included in this review.
A total of 760 such establishments, 13 of which scored below a 90, were inspected in Mecklenburg County last month. For those with a "B" or "C" grade in April that have since been reinspected, the updated score is noted in the summary.
Food establishments that score below a 70 immediately have their permits revoked, according to state law.
There are about 4,400 food-service facilities in operation across Mecklenburg County. That's according to the Food and Facilities Sanitation Program, which is part of the Mecklenburg County Health Department's Environmental Health Division. Staff within that division conduct more than 13,000 facility inspections each year "to help maintain high levels of sanitation in the protection of public health," its website states.
The Food Establishment Inspection Report checks for factors that increase the chance of someone developing a food-borne illness and ensures preventative measures are in place for keeping pathogens, chemicals and physical objects out of food. To see specifically what health inspectors look for when visiting a food establishment, check out a copy of the report.
Among items of priority are improper cooking techniques and temperatures, food handlers not washing their hands properly and sick workers preparing food.
More information about Mecklenburg County's food-service inspections and access to the North Carolina Food Code Manual can be found here.
The list below, compiled in alphabetical order, includes the name of each food establishment, its address, score, date of inspection and all violations for which it received a demerit last month. Updated scores for establishments that have undergone reinspection are provided below as well.
To view the searchable database, click here.
Bonchon, 1600 E. Woodlawn Road in Charlotte (87/B)
Inspected April 3: Ten violations resulting in a demerit, including food employees demonstrated minimal employee health knowledge (1 point); food employee attempted to wash hands in prep sink/food employee washed hands and failed to use paper towel to turn off faucet/employee moved trash can and returned to prep cooler to continue prepping food without washing hands (2 points); unwashed produce found stored over washed produce inside walk-in cooler/peeled onions stored directly on shelving inside prep unit (1.5 points); food debris observed on multiple knives stored as clean/food debris on pans stored as clean (1.5 points); multiple items such as slaw, cooked spinach and mushrooms in prep unit were cold holding above required temperature (1.5 points); items inside prep unit and walk-in cooler lacked date marks (3 points); proper cooling method not used for items placed inside walk-in cooler to rapidly cool (0.5 point); multiple roaches observed in rear kitchen area (1 point); sanitizer bucket stored on floor/food debris found inside sanitizer bucket (0.5 point); and employees' phones, hats, earbuds, clothing and food stored above prep areas and with customer food (0.5 point). (Reinspected April 26: 92/A)
Cherry House II, 7631 Sharon Lakes Road in Charlotte (88.5/B)
Inspected April 11: Ten violations resulting in a demerit, including person in charge failed to ensure various rules in code for food safety and handling were being met (1 point); food employees observed turning off faucet with bare hands after washing them/employee returned to kitchen from outside to prep food and handle clean equipment without first washing hands (2 points); laundry detergent used as detergent for food contact surfaces/employee observed washing bus tub at prep sink (1.5 points); soup was hot holding below required temperature (1.5 points); walk-in cooler failed to maintain food such as raw and cooked chicken, beef, cabbage and other vegetables at required temperature due to equipment issue (1.5 points); bottle of grill cleaner found unlabeled (1 point); food stored in containers observed on floor of walk-in cooler (1 point); wet wiping cloths found on counter surfaces (0.5 point); dried food debris was accumulating on drain board of three-compartment sink (0.5 point); and large amount of grease buildup found on sides of grills and oven/grease on floor/facility in need of general cleaning (1 point). (Reinspected April 24: 96.5/A)
Costa Maya Mexican Restaurant, 520 University Center Blvd. in Charlotte (84/B)
Inspected April 22: Eleven violations resulting in a demerit, including person in charge unable to answer questions related to operation of facility/multiple priority-item violations (1 point); cook observed leaving and returning to station and change gloves without first washing hands (2 points); utensil observed in back handwashing sink/ water at hand sink on cook line failed to reach required temperature/no cold water at back hand sink/no paper towels at hand sink on cook line (1 point); oyster tags not dated and out of chronological order (1 point); raw fish found in container with crab legs (3 points); buildup observed inside ice machine/employee washed dishes at three-compartment sink without sanitizer/food debris found on dicer and one container stored as clean (3 points); several cooked items in walk-in cooler were cold holding above required temperature (1.5 points); several cooked items in lowboy coolers lacked date marks/house-made spicy tomato sauce and two packs of hotdogs kept past expiration date (1.5 points); proper cooling method not used for multiple food items cooked the previous day (0.5 point); facility did not have thin probe thermometer to measure foods (0.5 point); and lettuce stored in direct contact with water in prep top unit and walk-in cooler/two food boxes on floor of walk-in freezer/four food containers found uncovered in dry storage area (1 point).
Fairfield Inn & Suites, 8540 E. Independence Blvd. in Charlotte (89/B)
Inspected April 23: Nine violations resulting in a demerit, including food handler on site unable to answer questions related to operation of facility and food safety (1 point); no certified food protection manager on site (1 point); food handler turned off faucet at handwashing sink with bare hands after washing them (2 points); two commercially cooked, unopened packages of scrambled eggs was not reheating to required temperature (1.5 points); precooked breakfast potatoes were hot holding below required temperature (1.5 points); opened packages of precooked sausage links and sausages in reach-in unit lacked date marks (1.5 points); facility failed to follow written procedures for using Time as a Public Health Control (1.5 points); facility had no quat sanitizer test kit available (0.5 point); and employee sweater stored on top of syrup containers at dry-storage shelving unit/employee and resale foods commingled inside reach-in unit (0.5 point).
Guate Linda, 6016 The Plaza in Charlotte (80/B)
Inspected April 23: Fifteen violations resulting in a demerit, including person in charge failed to ensure various rules in code for food safety and handling were being met (1 point); employee drinks observed on prep table (0.5 point); cook failed to wash hands for required length of time and did not use barrier to turn off faucet/cook left and returned to station without washing hands (2 points); large, opened containers of chicken sauce and mayonnaise observed in dry storage area instead of refrigerator (1 point); multiple boxes of unwashed produce stored over ready-to-eat food in walk-in cooler (1.5 points); black beans were cooling outside of required temperature/time range (3 points); refried beans and salsa were hot holding below required temperature (3 points); several food items recently prepped or cooked were cold hold holding above required temperature (3 points); multiple food pans in prep unit lacked date marks/opened milk in walk-in cooler lacked date mark (1.5 points); proper cooling method not used for multiple pans of food (0.5 point); approved thawing method not used for three bags of chicken (0.5 point); cook observed preparing food while wearing watch and bracelet (0.5 point); knives stored in opening between prep top unit and prep table (0.5 point); torn gasket on both doors of lowboy coolers (1 point); and employee and customer foods commingled in dry storage area/employee water bottle in walk-in cooler/employee medicine on shelf above prep sink (0.5 point).
Hook & Reel, 14142 Rivergate Parkway in Charlotte (87/B)
Inspected April 19: Nine violations resulting in a demerit, including empty soap dispenser observed at hand-washing sink (1 point); mold found inside tomato sauce in lowboy unit (1 point); food employee handled raw fish and attempted to prep fries without changing gloves/employee washed dishes and attempted to handle tomatoes without changing gloves (1.5 points); ready-to-eat sausage, raw shrimp, raw catfish and other items in prep units were cold holding above required temperature due to equipment issue (3 points); containers of ready-to-eat sausage, boiled eggs and tomato sauce lacked date marks (1.5 points); facility failed to follow written procedures for using Time as a Public Health Control for cooked corn and potatoes (1.5 points); proper cooling method not used noodles (0.5 point); several flying pests observed around drain areas and kitchen/back door left open (2 points); and drain from three-compartment sink did not have required air gap (1 point). (Reinspected April 24: 96.5/A)
Los Paisanos (mobile food), 3737 Atmore St. in Charlotte (88.5)
Inspected April 13: Eight violations resulting in a demerit, including person in charge unable to answer many questions about food safety (1 point); no certified food protection manager on site (1 point); canned drink with straw observed sitting on same surface where food is present (0.5 point); food employee failed to wash hands for required length of time and turned off faucet without using barrier (2 points); chicken and beef on prep table and cooked onions were hot holding below required temperature (1.5 points); several containers of cheese and cheese and sauce were cold holding above required temperature (1.5 points); several recently made items such as carne asada lacked date marks (3 points); and chlorine sanitizer at too high a concentration level (1 point). (Reinspected April 26: 93)
Mr. Charles Chicken & Fish, 8006 Cambridge Commons Drive in Charlotte (88.5/B)
Inspected April 23: Ten violations resulting in a demerit, including person in charge lacked knowledge of food temperatures/person in charge failed to ensure various rules in code for food safety and handling were being met (1 point); no soap at front and back hand-washing sinks (1 point); cooked meat, thawing raw salmon and box of raw turkey stored in basin at three-compartment sink (3 points); rice cooling outside of required temperature/time range (1.5 points); several items cold holding above required temperature including large bins of chicken, two containers of fish, cheese and barbecue pork in reach-in units as well as lettuce, tomatoes, cheese, mushrooms, burgers, beef and hotdogs (1.5 points); proper cooling methods not used for macaroni and rice (0.5 point); several dead roaches observed at dry dish storage area (1 point); food employee observed with watch on wrist (0.5 point); tongs stored in hand-washing sink area/scoop stored in ice (0.5 point); and rusted shelves in coolers/broken gasket at reach-in unit/door of walk-in cooler not closing properly/cold drawers under grill, prep unit and multiple reach-in units were holding items above required temperature (facility voluntarily closed)/sugar stored in regular household bin (1 point). (Reinspected April 30: 95/A)
Parr Center Kitchen (CPCC campus), 1201 Elizabeth Ave. in Charlotte (89/B)
Inspected April 25: Seven violations resulting in a demerit, including person in charge failed to ensure various rules in code for food safety and handling were being met (1 point); grease and food residue found on deli slicer, pans, containers, measuring cups and scoops stored as clean (1.5 points); gravy was cooling outside of required temperature/time range (3 points); chili on grill was hot holding below required temperature (1.5 points); pizzas and marinara sauces were cold holding above required temperature (1.5 points); chicken, sausage, pizza sauce, coleslaw, cooked peppers, cooked mushrooms and ham lacked date marks/two containers of plant-based sausage kept past expiration date (1.5 points); and proper cooling methods not used for cut tomatoes, ham and gravy (1 point). (Reinspected May 2: 97.5/A)
Philly Corner, 8535 Hankins Road in Charlotte (87.5/B)
Inspected April 18: Six violations resulting in a demerit, including facility had multiple priority-item violations (1 point); employee put on gloves to start handling food without first washing hands/employee threw away paper from floor without washing hands afterward (4 points); items observed in two hand-washing sinks (1 point); beef patty was cold holding above required temperature (3 points); cooked chicken, turkey and ham lacked date marks (3 points); and hot water failed to reach required temperature (0.5 point).
Pizza Hut, 1909 Milton Road in Charlotte (88/B)
Inspected April 11: Eleven violations resulting in a demerit, including multiple priority-item violations observed at facility (1 point); facility failed to demonstrate how employees are trained on health policy (1 point); facility had no cleanup instructions for vomiting/diarrheal events (0.5 point); employee observed switching from paperwork to handling food containers without washing hands (2 points); unwashed mushrooms stored over ready-to-eat foods in walk-in cooler (1.5 points); food debris found on multiple trays, pan and containers stored as clean/multiple items not stored inverted on racks/thermometer probe stored unclean (1.5 points); multiple food boxes observed on floor of walk-in freezer (1 point); box of napkins on floor (0.5 point); heavy buildup on inside and outside of dish machine, drain board and racks (1 point); heavy buildup on/in equipment including prep units, oven, lowboy cooler, reach-in unit, wings sauce station, doors of walk-in cooler and freezer, and three-compartment sink/heavy buildup on shelves throughout facility including refrigeration units, storage racks and rack for clean dishes/heavy buildup on gaskets of all refrigeration units (1 point); and heavy buildup on floors, walls, ceilings and vents throughout facility including kitchen, walk-in cooler and freezer, dry storage room, dish room and prep areas/large amount of debris and buildup in floor drains throughout facility (1 point).
Popeyes, 6107 The Plaza in Charlotte (83/B)
Inspected April 16: Fourteen violations resulting in a demerit, including person in charge unable to answer questions about operation of facility/multiple priority-item violations (1 point); person in charge lacked knowledge of health policy/employee training of policy (1 point); two opened employee drinks observed on prep tables (0.5 point); employee changed gloves several times while switching tasks without washing hands and continuing to handle food (2 points); food debris and sticker residue found on several pans, lids and plastic containers stored as clean (3 points); buttermilk and blackened ranch to-go packets at drive-thru window were cold holding above required temperature (3 points); coleslaw and cooked rice in walk-in cooler lacked date marks/employee put incorrect date on portioned cups of coleslaw (1.5 points); food boxes observed on floor of walk-in cooler and freezer/two containers of melted butter left unprotected on prep tables (1 point); two employees observed wearing jewelry/employee working in kitchen without hair restraint or beard guard (0.5 point); scooper for ice machine stored unprotected on top of prep table on tray with food debris (0.5 point); single-service pie holders stored unprotected and sitting under soiled tray/single-service lids at drive-thru and cups on front counter next to cash register left unprotected (0.5 point); large amount of ice observed on fan in walk-in freezer/ice accumulation on top of boxes in walk-in freezer (0.5 point); grease buildup and food debris found on biscuit warmer, shelves throughout facility, single-service bowl holders, interior of biscuit reach-in cooler, exterior of ovens, bottom of hot-holding cabinets, bottom of lowboy cooler, low shelvers and frozen lemonade drip trays (1 point); and grease and food debris observed on walls throughout facility/large hole observed in wall next to back door (1 point).
Teriyaki Express II, 6434 W. Sugar Creek Road in Charlotte (87.5/B)
Inspected April 15: Nine violations resulting in a demerit, including no paper towels at hand-washing sink (1 point); buildup on blade of can opener/debris on pans and utensils/chlorine sanitizer at three-compartment sink at incorrect concentration level/food and debris found inside microwave (1.5 points); several food items were cold holding above required temperature (facility voluntarily closed) (1.5 points); food such as cooked chicken, shredded cabbage, egg rolls and noodles in walk-in cooler lacked date marks (3 points); facility failed to follow written procedures for using Time as a Public Health Control for cooked chicken (3 points); sauces observed stored in cans with rust/rust and buildup on shelving/walk-in and reach-in coolers cold holding items above required temperature (0.5 point); no test strips for sanitizer observed in facility (0.5 point); buildup on surfaces of walk-in and reach-in coolers (0.5 point); and food and buildup found on floors and behind equipment (1 point). (Reinspected May 2: 91/A)