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 facilities 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.
Columbine Bar123 W. Grand Ave., Mancos
date: April 25
Priority violations: 0
priority Foundation violations: 0
core violations: 0
Montezuma Mexican Restaurant18396 Colorado 145, Dolores
date: April 19
priority violations: 1
1. Hands cleaned and properly washed.
inspector Comments: Employee observed draining water off seafood with bare hands, not washing hands, and then handling clean equipment. Observed employee cracking eggs and not washing hands before putting on gloves. Problem corrected on-site.
priority foundation violations: 1
1. Person in charge demonstrates knowledge.
inspector comments: The person in charge shall demonstrate this knowledge by complying with this code by having no violations of priority items during the current inspection. Problem was corrected on-site.
core violations: 2
1. Certified food protection manager.
inspector comments: Facility does not currently have a certified person on staff.
2. Non-food contact surfaces clean category.
inspector comments: Gaskets on freezer units and refrigerated units are damaged, not keeping a good seal on doors.
El Grande Cafe28 E. Main St., Cortez
date: April 23
Priority violations: 0
Priority foundation violations: 0
core violations: 0
Hunan Kitchen2561 E. Main St., Cortez
date: April 22
priority violations: 1
1. Proper cold holding temperatures category
inspector comments: Observed peeled eggs out at room temperature at 54 degrees Fahrenheit. Eggs were placed back into the refrigerator. Observed cooked/cooled breaded items at 64 degrees Fahrenheit. These items were sitting out at room temperature for 1 hour. Product was placed into the walk-in. Problem was corrected on-site.
priority foundation violations: 2
1. Person in charge demonstrates knowledge.
inspector comments: Person in charge is not complying with the code by having no violations of priority items during the current inspection. Problem was corrected on-site.
2. Proper date marking and disposition category.
inspector comments: Facility has not date-marked any of the foods cooked and cooling for today. Foods will be held for more than 24 hours. Problem was corrected on-site.
Core violations: 0
Dolores Food Market400 Railroad Ave., Dolores
date: April 19
Priority violations: 0
priority foundation violations:0
core violations: 0
Dove Creek Superette Deli445 U.S. 491, Dove Creek
date: April 17
Priority violations: 0
Priority foundation violations: 1
1. Food contact surfaces; cleaned and sanitized.
inspector comments: Can opener and food slicer are stored dirty.
core violations: 2
1. Non-food contact surfaces clean.
inspector comments: Equipment that needs additional cleaning: Soup kettle for customer self-service, handles of refrigerated units, inside shelving of refrigerated units, cup holders for paper cups in customer self-service area, and outside of glass doors on units storing food.
2. Physical facilities installed, maintained, and clean.
inspector comments: Floors in deli are very dirty. Lots of old food spills not being cleaned up. Entrance area and customer service area have a lot of build-up on flooring. Back storeroom where food and supplies for the deli area are stored is very cluttered and disorganized. Need to be able to clean under and around storage areas.
Dove Creek Sinclair419 W. U.S. 491, Dove Creek
date: April 17
Priority violations:0
Priority foundation violations:0
core violations: 0
Taste of India1013 E. Main St.. Cortez
date: April 18
priority violations: 1
1. Proper cooling time and temperature.
inspector comments: Cooled time/temperature control for safety foods shall be cooled within 2 hours from 135 degrees Fahrenheit to 70 degrees Fahrenheit and within a total of 6 hours from 135 degrees Fahrenheit to 41 degrees or less. Problem was corrected on-site.
priority Foundation Violations: 1
1. Person in charge demonstrates knowledge category.
inspector comments: Facility has a person in charge, however there was a violation in cooling, which resulted in a priority violation. Problem was corrected on-site.
core Violations: 0
Lakeside Lanes410 Lakeside St., Cortez
date: April 15
priority violations: 0
priority foundation violations: 1
1. Procedures for responding to vomiting and diarrheal events.
inspector comments: Facility did not have a policy in place. A procedure was left for guidance.
core violations: 3
1. Certified food protection manager.
inspector comments: No one in the facility is currently certified.
2. Non-food contact surfaces clean.
inspector comments: Dirty surfaces of cabinet doors, refrigerator handles., compartment sink drainboards and napkin holders.
3. Physical facilities installed, maintained and clean.
inspector comments: Back storeroom is very cluttered and disorganized.
Walgreens No. 103701671 E. Main St., Cortez
date: April 15
priority violations: 0
priority foundation violations: 0
core violations: 0
FB Organics1 W. Main St., Cortez
date: April 15
priority violations: 0
priority foundation violations: 0
core violations: 0
Papa Murphy’s1423 E. Main St. Unit B, Cortez
date: April 11
priority violations: 0
priority foundation violations: 0
core violations: 1
1. Proper eating, tasting, drinking or tobacco use.
inspector comments: Cigarette observed on food scale stored on shelving in back storage room.
Community Center County Annex107 N. Chestnut, Cortez
date: April 8
priority violations: 0
priority foundation violations: 0
core violations: 0
BPOE No. 17892100 N. Dolores Road, Cortez
date: April 11
priority violations: 0
priority foundation violations: 0
core violations: 0