The Journal publishes local restaurant inspection reports provided monthly by the Montezuma County Health Department.
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.
Inspections of retail food facilities are done at least once a year.
Melissa Mathews conducts about 145 retail food facility inspections every year for Montezuma and Dolores counties as the Health Department’s environmental health specialist.
New rulesNew inspection regulations took effect Jan. 1 in Colorado.
Colorado Retail Food Establishment Rules and Regulations are based on a national standard for retail food sales and include several changes.
Every facility serving food to the public must have at least one certified food protection manager, who may educate other staff, Mathews said.
“Studies have shown that when there is a certified food protection manager at staff, foodborne illnesses go down,” Mathews said.
Courses typically take two days and include a test. Classes are available at 970-565-3056.
Restaurants and food facilities may use sturdy, noncommercial-grade equipment and use any size of hand-washing sink. Food may be prepared in the three-sink area previously restricted to dish washing.
Facilities must date stored foods and must control food temperature.
Customer containers may be used for to-go food, but after the container is washed properly by the facility.
Staff must wash hands between glove changes when beginning a different task. Hand-washing between glove changes while doing the same task is no longer required.
Food facilities must have procedures for cleaning up after vomiting and diarrheal events.
New violation categories are “Priority,” “Priority Foundation” and “Core.” “Critical” and “noncritical” categories are no longer used.
“Priority” and “Priority Foundation” are critical violations that might cause foodborne illness. “Core” violations are noncritical and carry less risk of foodborne illness.
Mathews said inspections now take longer because of the need to educate facility staff. Facilities are encouraged to keep a hard copy handy or bookmark it on a computer desktop.
Walmart Super Center1835 E. Main St., Cortez
date: Dec. 3
Priority violations: 0
priority foundation violations: 0
core violations: 0
Dolores River Brewery100 S. Fourth St., Dolores
date: Dec. 5
priority violations: 0
priority foundation violations: 0
core violations: 0
Speedway 94962021 E. Main St., Cortez
date: Dec. 2
priority violations: 0
priority foundation violations: 0
core violations: 0
Speedway 94922320 E. Main St., Cortez
date: Dec. 2
priority violations: 0
priority Foundation Violations: 2
1. Thermometer provided and accurate category.
inspector comments: Facility does not have probe type thermometer to monitor hot holding temperatures for burritos. Problem corrected during inspection.
2. Hot and cold water available category.
inspector comments: Facility does not have hot water currently. There was a gas leak and the store is waiting for it to be returned to service.
core violations: 0
Hope’s Kitchen515 N. Park St., Cortez
date: Dec. 9
priority violations: 0
priority foundation violations: 0
core violations: 0
Olio114 W. Grand Ave., Mancos
date: Dec. 11
priority violations: 0
priority foundation violations: 0
core violations: 0
Mancos Chavolo’s121 Railroad Ave., Mancos
date: Dec. 11
priority violations: 1
1. Food contact surfaces
inspector comments: Observed raw meat put onto a cutting surface and not sanitized properly after process was complete. Problem corrected during inspection.
priority foundation violations: 2
1. Using a hand-washing sink category.
inspector comments: Observed hand-washing at the three-compartment sink. Problem corrected during inspection.
2. Proper date marking category.
inspector comments: Observed foods stored in walk-in that will be held in facility for more than one day. Foods were not properly date marked. Problem corrected during inspection.
core violations: 1
1. Gloves used properly category.
inspector comments: Observed employee rinsing off gloves after handling raw foods.
Beny’s Diner200 W Main St., Cortez
date: Dec. 12
priority violations: 0
priority Foundation Violations: 2
1. Using a hand-washing sink category.
Inspector Comments: Observed washing dishes used for scrambled eggs being rinsed in the hand sink. Problem corrected during inspection.
2. Proper date marking category.
inspector comments: Facility is not properly labeling ready to eat foods in the walk-in. Problem corrected during inspection.
core violations: 2
1. Proper eating, drinking category.
inspector Comments: Open beverage can being stored in the freezer.
2. In-use utensils category.
inspector comments: Storing clean knives in between steam table and cutting board mounted to the steam table.
Pizza Hut119 E. Main St., Cortez
date: Dec. 13
priority violations: 0
priority foundation violations: 0
core violations: 0
Gustavo’s125 E. Main St., Cortez
Date: Dec. 13
priority violations: 0
priority Foundation violations: 0
core violations: 1
1. Certified food protection manager.
inspector comments: Facility does not have a certified person on staff.
Dolores Elementary School1301 Central Ave., Dolores
date: Dec. 12
priority violations: 0
priority Foundation Violations: 0
core violations: 0
Dolores Outfitters341 Railroad Ave, Dolores
date: Dec. 12
priority violations: 0
priority foundation violations: 0
core violations: 0
Community Center County Annex107 N. Chestnut St., Cortez
date: Dec. 18
priority violations: 0
priority foundation violations: 0
core violations: 0
Sonic Drive In436 S. Broadway, Cortez
date: Dec. 16
priority violations: 0
priority foundation violations: 0
core violations: 0
Safeway No. 18921580 E. Main St., Cortez
date: Dec.16
priority violations: 1
1. Proper reheating procedures for hot holding.
inspector Comments: Observed chicken pot pies at an internal temp of 152 degrees Fahrenheit after being reheated in oven to be hot held in customer grab and go case. Problem corrected during inspection.
priority Foundation violations: 1
1. Person in charge present demonstrates knowledge.
inspector comments: The person in charge shall demonstrate this knowledge by complying with the code and having no violations of priority items during the current inspection. Problem corrected during inspection.
core violations: 1
1. Frozen food category
inspector comments: Observed frozen turkey’s being stored above the temperature hold of the unit. Turkey’s were beginning to thaw. Problem corrected during inspection.
The Bridge735 N. Park St., Cortez
date: Dec. 18
priority violations: 0
priority Foundation violations: 0
core violations: 0
Dolores County Senior Services8540 Road 7.2, Dove Creek
date: Dec. 19
priority violations: 0
priority foundation violations: 0
core violations: 0
Stateline Bar & Grill69576 U.S. Highway 491
date: Dec. 19
priority violations: 0
priority foundation violations: 0
core violations: 0
Southwest Memorial Hospital1311 N. Mildred Road, Cortez
Date: Dec. 20
priority violations: 0
priority foundation violations: 0
core violations: 0
Cortez Dairy Queen1127 E. Main St. Cortez
date: Dec. 27
priority violations: 0
priority Foundation violations: 0
core violations: 0