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 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.
Taste of India1013 Main St., Cortez
Date: Sept. 7, 0.8 hours
Critical violations: 0
Noncritical violations: 0
Good 2 Go Store #10717 Broadway Ave., Cortez
Date: Sept. 7, 0.2 hours
Critical violations: 0
Noncritical violations: 0
Thai Cortez1430 Main St. Cortez
Date: Sept. 7, 1.55 hours
Critical violations: 0
Noncritical violations: 0
St. Barnabas of the Valley110 W. North St., Cortez
Date: Sept. 11, 1 hour
Critical violations: 0
Noncritical violations: 0
Seventh Street Elementary700 Main St., Dove Creek
Date: Sept. 18, .6 hours
Critical violations: 0
Noncritical violations: 0
Hunan Kitchen2561 E. Main St., Cortez
Date: Sept. 10, 1 hour
Critical violations: 0
Noncritical violations: 0
Mancos Elementary School301 W. Grand Ave., Mancos
Date: Sept. 12, 0.75 hours
Critical violations: 0
Noncritical violations: 0
Pleasant View Elementary School15388 County Road CC, Cortez
Date: Sept. 7, 0.75 hours
Critical violations: 0
Noncritical violations: 0
Montezuma County Detention Center730 E. Driscoll St., Cortez
Date: Sept. 10, 0.75 hours
Critical violations: 0
Noncritical violations: 0
Argentine Grille124 Glasgow Ave., Rico
Date: Sept. 21, 1.4 hours
Critical violations: 1
1. Personnel category, hygienic practices
Inspector comments: Hand sinks are being used for purposes other than hand washing. Observed bagged mussels being stored under running water in the hand sink. Problem corrected on-site.
Noncritical violations: 0
Basecamp Food and Fuel1110 Railroad Ave., Dolores
Date: Sept. 21, 0.8 hours
Critical violations: 2
1. Temperature control category
Inspector comments: Potentially hazardous food products are not being properly hot held at 135 degrees Fahrenheit or above at all times during service. Observed pizza in the hot holding case at 116 degrees Fahrenheit. Product has been in case for more than 2 hours. Problem corrected on-site.
2. Plumbing category
Inspector comments: A hose is attached to water outlet without backflow preventer. Observed a hose attached to a faucet at the mot sing. The atmospheric vacuum breaker is damaged. Problem corrected on-site.
Noncritical violations: 0
Absolute Bakery & Cafe110 Main St., Mancos
Date: Sept. 26, 1.8 hours
Critical violations: 0
Noncritical violations: 0
Mancos Masonic Lodge140 Montezuma Ave., Mancos
Date: Sept. 26, 0.4 hours
Critical violations: 0
Noncritical violations: 0
