Inspections of all retail food facilities are done yearly, and in some cases more than once per year. Unannounced inspections are conducted for restaurants, school cafeterias, hospital and nursing home cafeterias, grocery stores, convenience stores, fairgrounds, resorts, food trucks, festivals and any event or facility where food is sold to the public.
Melissa Mathews conducts about 145 retail food facility inspections every year for Montezuma and Dolores counties as the Health Department’s environmental health specialist.
The inspections are completed on-site and include compliance standards set by the Colorado Department of Health and Environment. The categories are divided into critical and noncritical health standards specific to retail food facilities.
Critical areas are those that if not in compliance may cause foodborne illnesses. The categories include food sources, personnel, food temperature-control, sanitation, water systems and plumbing, hand-washing facilities, pest control and poisonous or toxic items.
Noncritical areas are important, but have less risk of causing foodborne illnesses. The categories include food labeling and protection, equipment design and construction, testing devices, cleaning of equipment utensils and linens, and physical facilities.
Under Colorado law, any retail food customer can ask an establishment for its latest inspection report, and the facility is required to provide it, Mathews said.
Hong Kong Chinese Restaurant332 Main St., Cortez
date: Aug. 1, 2.3 hours
critical violations: 3
1. Personnel category, hands washed as needed.
inspector comments: Employees observed not hand-washing when required. Observed food employee with gloves mixing raw meat and then continuing with duties. Gloves were removed, but no hand-washing. Problem corrected on-site.
2. Personnel category, hygienic practices.
Inspector comments: Food-preparation employee has poor hygienic practices. Observed nondisposable gloves being used to mix raw meat in a bowl. Gloves were taken off only after touching multiple surfaces. Problem corrected on-site.
3.Personnel category, demonstration of knowledge.
inspector comments: Food employee does not demonstrate food-safety knowledge. Requiring a food-handling course be taken. Problem corrected on-site.
noncritical violations: 0
Ocean Pearl Chinese Restaurant300 E. Main St., Cortez
date: Aug. 22, 1.1 hours
critical violations: 0
noncritical violations: 0
The Farm34 Main St., Cortez
date: Aug. 31, 1.6 hours
Critical violations: 0
noncritical violations: 0
Mi Mexico550 Broadway, Cortez
date: Aug. 28, 1.2 hours
critical violations: 1
1. Food temperature control category, hot hold.
inspector comments: Incorrect/unapproved use of time as a public health control for hot holding. Observed chili rellenos on top of stove at 106 degrees Fahrenheit and 129 degrees Fahrenheit. No plan in place. Facility will implement plan for using this procedure. Problem corrected on-site.
noncritical violations: 0
DC Rack Haus330 U.S. Highway 491, Dove Creek
date: Aug. 29, 1 hour
critical violations: 0
noncritical violations: 0
Deb’s Diner546 U.S. Highway 491, Dove Creek
date: Aug. 29, 1.3 hours
critical violations: 4
1. Personnel category, hygienic practices.
inspector comments: Food employee observed wiping hands on soiled apron, clothes or common towel. Observed employee in kitchen wiping hands on a towel in between handling food. Problem corrected on-site.
2. Personnel category: smoking, eating drinking.
inspector comments: Employee observed eating, drinking, or smoking in nondesignated areas. Observed a used cigarette butt in a dish sitting on a shelf in the wait area. Employee beverage containers are not stored to prevent contamination. Observed open coffee cup sitting on prep table in the kitchen. Problem corrected on-site.
3. Personnel category, demonstration of knowledge.
inspector comments: Food employee does not demonstrate food-safety knowledge. Correction will be the online training offered at www.statefoodsafety.com. Will follow up in 10 days to ensure class has been completed and certificate issued.
4. Personnel category, preventing food contamination.
Inspector Comments: Employee observed using bare hands to contact ready-to-eat foods. Observed bare hand contact on lettuce, tomatoes, cheese, onions, buns and tortillas. Problem corrected on site.
noncritical violations: 0
Shiloh Steakhouse5 Veach St., Cortez
date: Aug. 24, 1.7 hours
critical violations: 2
1. Food source category.
inspector comments: The facility does not have a pre-approved plan in place for specialized processes conducted. Facility is processing green tomato relish using a cook-chill process. Facility will discontinue. Problem is corrected on site.
2. Food temperature control rapidly cool foods.
inspector comments: Potential hazardous food products are not rapidly cooled from 135 degrees Fahrenheit to 70 degrees Fahrenheit within 2 hours and from 70 degrees to 41 degrees within an additional 4 hours. Prime rib from last night and baked potatoes are being stored in walk-in at 46 degrees. Problem corrected on site.
noncritical violations: 0
Bubba’s18806 U.S. Highway 491, Lewis
date: Aug. 22, .9 hours
critical violations: 0
noncritical violations: 0
Pippo’s Coffee Bar100 W. Main St., Cortez
date: Aug. 20, 1.2 hours
critical violations: 2
1. Food temperature control, rapidly cool foods.
inspector comments: Potentially hazardous food products are not rapidly cooled from 135 degrees Fahrenheit to 70 degrees within 2 hours and from 70 degrees to 41 degrees within an additional 4 hours. Observed cooling green chili on the back table at temperatures ranging from 128-132 degrees Fahrenheit. After evaluating the cooling procedures, it was determined it was not going to cool within the correct parameters. We corrected the procedure by using ice as a coolant. Facility will continue to use ice and then put the product into the freezer. Problem is corrected on-site.
2. Food temperature control category, food thermometer.
inspector comments: Food product thermometers are not used by employees to determine food temperature(s). There is not an adequate thermometer on premise to monitor all food temperatures. Problem was corrected on-site.
noncritical violations: 0
Zuma Natural Foods299 N Main St., Mancos
date: Aug. 10, 1.2 hours
critical violations: 1
1. Pest control category, evidence of insects.
inspector comments: The presence of pests is not minimized. Observed open window in the kitchen and flies in facility.
noncritical violations: 0
Tamosan & Co.213 S Glasgow, Rico
date: Aug. 17, 1 hour
critical violations: 4
1. Personnel category, hands washed as needed.
inspector comments: Employees observed not hand-washing when required. Observed food employee going to storage unit with gloves on and then returning not changing gloves or washing hands. Problem corrected on-site.
2. Personnel category, preventing food contamination from bare hands.
inspector comments: Employee observed using bare hands to contact ready-to-eat foods. Observed food employee chopping lettuce bare handed. Facility will utilize gloves with ready-to-eat foods. Problem corrected on-site.
3. Sanitation category, manual sanitization.
inspector comments: Food contact surfaces are not adequately sanitized during manual ware washing. Incorrect procedure being used to wash, rinse and sanitize food contact equipment. Facility is utilizing second compartment as the sanitizer and then the third compartment is being used to rinse off the sanitizer. Problem corrected on-site.
4. Hand-washing facilities category, adequate number, location.
inspector comments: Hand sinks are not conveniently located to employees involved in food handling and ware washing. Outdoor cooking area does not have hand-washing capability. Going to have a hand-washing set-up outside.
noncritical violations: 1
1. Cleaning of equipment category.
inspector comments: Wiping cloth solution has insufficient sanitizer concentration. Wiping clothes are not stored in sanitizing solution between uses and no sanitizer is registering.
Echo Basin43747 Road M, Mancos
date: Aug. 18, 1.3 hours
critical violations: 0
noncritical violations: 0
Priest Gulch Campground27646 Colorado Highway 145, Dolores
date: Aug. 9, .45 hours
critical violations: 0
noncritical violations: 0
Nanny’s Taqueria101 S. 11th St., Dolores
date: Aug. 17, 1.4 hours
critical violations: 0
noncritical violations: 0
P&D Grocery & Mancos Pizza230 E. Frontage Road, Unit 5, Mancos
date: Aug. 17, 1.7 hours
critical violations: 3
1. Personnel category: smoking, eating drinking.
inspector comments: Open employee beverages or unapproved containers are observed in food preparation areas. Observed open drinks on cutting board of prep table in the pizza area. Employees observed eating, drinking, or smoking in nondesignated areas. Observed a cup of food and piece of bacon lying on prep table of bakery area. Problem corrected on-site.
2. Food temperature category, thermometer.
inspector comments: Food product thermometers are not used by employees to determine food temperature. Employee was unsure of the cook temperature of the chicken and did not have a thermometer to take temps. Will purchase thermometers. Verified the correct cook temperature was met. Problem corrected on-site.
3. Pest control category, evidence of insects.
inspector comments: The presence of pests is not minimized. Flies are present in the facility. Clean and sanitize food surfaces frequently.
noncritical violations: 0
Mancos Brewing Co.484 Frontage Road, Mancos
date: Aug. 4, 1 hour
critical violations:0
noncritical violations: 0
Dolores County Senior Services8540 Road 7.2, Dove Creek
date: Aug. 7, 1.1 hours
critical violations: 0
noncritical violations: 0
Burger Boy Drive-in400 Main St., Cortez
date: Aug. 6, 1.1 hours
Critical violations: 3
1. Personnel category, hands washed as needed.
inspector comments: Employees observed not hand-washing when required. Observed employees coming from outside back into kitchen and beginning tasks without washing hands. Problem corrected on-site.
2. Personnel category, hygienic practices.
inspector comments: Food employee observed wiping hands on soiled apron, clothes, or common towel. Observed employee handling raw hamburger patties with gloved hands and using wiping towel to wipe gloves off. Problem corrected on-site.
3. Sanitation category, manual sanitization.
inspector comments: Food contact surfaces are not adequately sanitized during manual ware washing. Facility is not leaving food contact surface of equipment in sanitizing solution for the required time and then is rinsing the solution off to then air-dry. Problem corrected on-site.
noncritical violations: 0
McDonald’s1322 Main St., Cortez
date: Aug. 5, 1 hour
critical violations: 0
noncritical violations: 0
Dove Creek Sinclair419 U.S. Highway 491, Dove Creek
date: Aug. 7, 1 hour
critical violations: 0
noncritical violations: 0
Gustavo’s125 Main St., Cortez
date: July 31
Critical violations: 2
1. Food Source category, cross-contamination.
inspector comments: Cross-contamination of raw to ready to eat food is not prevented during storage, preparation, display or transport. Observed employee handling raw meat with gloves, touching utensils, grabbing a potato and rinsing it in the sink, cutting it in the potato cutter, putting the pieces into fryer and then with the same gloved hands to handle equipment used for ready to eat foods. Problem corrected on-site.
2. Personnel category, hands washed as needed.
inspector comments: Employee observed not hand-washing when required. Employee went outside and when returning to duties, did not wash hands. Problem corrected on-site.
noncritical violations: 2
1. Equipment design/construction category.
inspector comments: Nonfood contact surfaces are constructed of unapproved materials, are in poor repair and not easily cleanable.
2. Cleaning of equipment.
inspector comments: Nonfood contact surfaces are not clean. Lids containing dried ingredients have old food spills.
Jack and Janelle’s Country Kitchen801 E. Main St., Cortez
date: Aug. 1, 2.4 hours
critical violations: 3
1. Food source category, cross-contamination.
inspector comments: Equipment and food-contact surfaces are not cleaned and sanitized between changing processes from raw to ready-to-eat foods or from different species. Observed employee with gloved hands touching raw sausage and then going to handle biscuits and equipment on the line. Problem corrected on-site.
2. Personnel category, hands washed as needed.
inspector comments: Employees observed not hand-washing when required. Observed employees on cell phone and not washing hands when going back to working with clean equipment and wiping towels. Problem corrected on-site.
3. Food temperature control category.
inspector comments: Raw shell eggs, cracked for pooling are observed at temperatures greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit at all times during service. Observed foods in the salad bar not being held properly. Cottage cheese and cut tomatoes are being held at 47 degrees Fahrenheit. Problem correct on-site.
noncritical violations: 1
1. Testing devices category.
inspector comments: Thermometers for cold holding equipment are not conspicuously located in the upper one-third of the refrigeration unit or are not provided. Cold hold units have thermometers displayed that are not correct. Units are still keeping the correct temperature.