Colorado has implemented new restaurant inspection regulations that took effect Jan. 1.
The Colorado Retail Food Establishment Rules and Regulations are based on a national standard for retail food sales, said Melissa Mathews, environmental specialist with the Montezuma County Health Department. She conducts inspections.
There are several changes.
First, every entity serving food to the public must have at least one staff person be a certified food protection manager. Every shift does not have to have the certified person working, however.
“The training requirement for the one staff member is intended to help educate the rest of the staff,” Mathews said.
Courses are typically two days with a test. Opportunities to take the class are available locally by calling 970-565-3056.
Other changes are that restaurants and food faculties can now use, sturdy, noncommercial-grade equipment, have any size of hand-washing sink, and prepare food in the three-sink area previously restricted to washing dishes. Marking the date on stored foods and temperature control is also a new requirement.
A new revision allows the use of customer containers to place to-go food, but after the container is washed properly by the facility. Also, hand-washing between glove changes while doing the same task is no longer required. Hand-washing between glove changes when a different task is begun is still required.
Food facilities must also have procedures for cleaning up after vomiting and diarrheal events.
There are no longer “critical” and “noncritical” violation categories. The new violation categories are “Priority,” “Priority Foundation” and “Core.”
Mathews said “Priority” and “Priority Foundation” are critical violations that might cause foodborne illnesses. “Core” violations are noncritical and are important, but they have less risk of causing foodborne illnesses.
“The rules are science-based and easier to understand. They are not unreasonable,” Mathews said. “Studies have shown that when there is a certified food protection manager at staff, foodborne illnesses go down.”
She said inspections are taking longer because of the need to educate staff at facilities. They are encouraged to keep a hard copy handy or have it bookmarked on their computer desktop.
The Journal publishes local restaurant inspection reports provided monthly by the Montezuma County Health Department.
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, hospital and nursing home cafeterias, grocery stores, convenience stores, fairgrounds, resorts, food trucks and any event or facility where food is sold to the public.
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.
Lewis-Arriola Elementary School 21434 County Road U, Lewis
Date: Feb. 28
priority violations: 0
priority foundation violations: 0
core violations: 0
Dolores Community Center400 Riverside, Ave., Dolores
Date: Feb. 27
priority violations:0
priority foundation violations: 0
core violations:0
Taco Bell1300 E. Main St., Cortez
date: Feb. 26
priority violations: 0
priority foundation violations: 0
core violations: 0
St. Barnabas of the Valley110 W. North St., Cortez
date: Feb. 26
priority violations: 0
foundation violations: 0
core violations: 0
Bean Tree318 Main St. Cortez
date: Feb. 11
priority violations: 0
foundation violations: 0
core violations: 1
1. Certified food protection manager category
inspector comments: Facility does not have a certified person on staff. Monica will attend a class.
Silver Bean410 W. Main St., Cortez
date: Feb. 25
priority violations: 0
foundation priority violations: 0
core violations: 1
1. Certified protection manager category.
inspector comments: Facility does not have a certified protection manager.
The Farm34 W. Main St., Cortez
date: Feb. 25
priority violations: 0
priority foundation violations: 0
core violations: 0
Shiloh Steakhouse5 Veech St., Cortez
date: Feb. 19
priority violations: 0
priority foundation violations: 0
core violations: 1
1. Certified food protection manager category.
inspector comments: Facility does not have a certified person on staff. Employee will take an exam on Monday, Feb. 26.
DC Rack Haus330 U.S. 491, Dove Creek
date: Feb. 14
priority violations: 2
1. Hands cleaned and properly washed category.
inspector comments: Employee had left the building and when returning did not wash hands prior to beginning working with clean equipment. Problem was corrected on-site.
2. Proper cooling time and temperature category.
inspector comments: Cooked time/temperature control for safety food was not cooled properly from 135 degrees Fahrenheit to 70 degrees Fahrenheit in 2 hours and then from 70 degrees Fahrenheit to 41 degrees Fahrenheit in 4 hours. Observed cooked/cooled beans in pressure cooker stored in walk-in at 48 degrees Fahrenheit. The beans had been cooked the night before. Food will be discarded. Corrected on-site.
Priority foundation violations: 1
1. Category: Person in charge/present, demonstrates knowledge, and performs duties.
inspector comments: The person in charge shall demonstrate knowledge by complying with this code by having no violations of priority items during the current inspection. Problem was corrected on-site.
core violations: 1
1. Certified food protection manager category.
inspector comments: Facility does not have certified manager.
Don Vic’s Grocery Store2501 E. Main St., Cortez
date: Feb. 13
priority violation: 1
1. Food separated and protected category.
inspector comments: Observed raw animals foods stored above cooked/cooled ready to eat foods. Problem was corrected on-site.
Priority foundation violation: 2
1. Category: Procedures for responding to vomiting and diarrheal events.
inspector comments: Facility does not have a policy in place. Problem was corrected on-site.
2. Proper date marking and disposition category.
inspector comments: Facility does not have a date marking procedure in place. Problem was corrected on-site.
core violation: 3
1. Food properly labeled category
inspector comments: Facility is packaging foods for consumer to grab and go. These packages are not labeled with the required documentation.
2. Category: Proper eating, tasting, drinking, or tobacco use.
inspector comments: Facility has open beverages in non-designated areas. Observed open beverage stored on baking rack and on shelves storing clean equipment.
3. Certified Food Protection Manager category.
inspector comments: Facility does not have a certified manager on staff. One of their staff will be taking a course being offered.
Absolute Bakery and Cafe110 S. Main St., Mancos
date: Feb. 12
priority violations: 0
Priority foundation violations: 0
core violations: 0
Fahrenheit Coffee Roasters201 W. Grand Ave., Mancos
date: Feb. 12
priority violations: 0
priority foundation violations: 0
core violations: 1
1. Certified food protection manager category.
inspector comments: Facility does not have a certification. Linda will be going to the course in March.
Denny’s No. 71702059 E. Main St., Cortez
date: Feb. 8
priority violations: 0
priority foundation violations: 0
core violations: 0