Marion County restaurant inspections: critical violations

The following restaurant inspections with critical violations were conducted by Marion Public Health between Jan. 17 and Jan. 22:

● The Remnant Tea & Coffee, 187 W. Center St., Marion, Jan. 17. Food not properly protected from contamination by separation, packaging and segregation (critical, corrected during inspection). Observed self-service pre-washed apples available to customers that were not individually wrapped/packaged. Ready-to-eat, TCS food not properly discarded when required (critical, corrected). Observed a container of skim milk in the cooler past seven days after opening. Person in charge (PIC) discarded the milk.

● Shell, 587 Delaware Ave., Marion, Jan. 17. PIC not ensuring employees are properly sanitizing equipment and utensils and monitoring of sanitizer parameters (critical repeat, corrected during inspection). Observed food employee not sanitizing the hot dog tongs after washing and rinsing. Equipment and utensils contacting TCS food not cleaned every four hours (critical, corrected). Food employee stated the hot dog tongs are only washed once a day.

● North Marion Fuel Inc., 847 N. Main St., Marion, Jan. 17. Food not properly protected from contamination by separation, packaging and segregation (critical, corrected during inspection). Observed a container of raw eggs on a shelf above packaged beverages.

● Tubby's Pizza, 138 W. Columbia St., Marion, Jan. 17. Refrigerated, ready-to-eat, TCS foods not properly date marked (critical, corrected during inspection). Observed an opened bag of chopped lettuce not date marked. PIC discarded the lettuce.

● Harding Harbor Seafood LLC, 267 W. Center St., Marion, Jan. 17. Handwashing sink is being used for purposes other than handwashing (critical, corrected during inspection). Observed pieces from a beverage machine in the bar hand sink. Food not properly protected from contamination by separation (critical, corrected).

Observed a carton of raw shell eggs sitting on top of packaged ready-to-eat food. TCS foods not being hot held at the proper temperature (critical, corrected). Observed mashed potatoes in the steam table below 135 degrees. PIC discarded the potatoes and was advised to check the temperatures on the steam table before placing food in it.

● Rollerama d.b.a. Zoomers Skate Club, 1683 Marion-Mt. Gilead Road, Marion, Jan. 17. PIC not ensuring employees are properly sanitizing equipment and utensils and monitoring of sanitizer parameters (critical, corrected during inspection). Food employee stated that dishes are washed, rinsed, then air dried, but not sanitized. Food employee and PIC were both shown how to make sanitizer and educated on the sanitizing requirement. Food employee(s) not washing hands in approved handwashing sink or automatic handwashing facility (critical, corrected).

Observed food employees washing their hands in the service/prep sink beside the handwashing sink in the kitchen. Improper bare-hand contact with ready-to-eat foods (critical, corrected). Observed a food employee touching the crust of a cooked pizza with bare hands. Food employee was asked to place the pizza back in the oven for further cooking. Refrigerated, ready-to-eat, TCS foods not properly date marked (critical, corrected).

Observed an opened bag of precooked chicken without a date mark in the stand-up cooler. PIC discarded the chicken. Unapproved chemical sanitizer used on food contact surfaces (critical, corrected). Observed several spray bottles of quat sanitizer with sanitizer levels above the approved concentration.

● Sporty's Pizzeria, 101 N. Main St., Prospect, Jan. 18. Ready-to-eat, TCS food not properly discarded when required (critical, corrected during inspection). Observed a container of opened canned mushrooms and a bag of cooked pasta in the coolers past their seven day hold time. PIC discarded the food items. Unapproved chemical sanitizer used on food contact surfaces (critical, corrected). Observed the chlorine sanitizer below the approved concentration in the three-bay sink.

● Pierce's Pizza & Drive Thru, 205 E. Battle St., Prospect, Jan. 18. PIC not ensuring employees are properly sanitizing equipment and utensils and monitoring of sanitizer parameters (critical, corrected during inspection). PIC stated that dishes are washed, rinsed and air dried but not sanitized. TCS foods not being hot held at the proper temperature (critical, corrected).

Observed the nacho cheese sauce in the cheese sauce dispenser below 135 degrees. Ready-to-eat, TCS food not properly discarded when required (critical, corrected). Observed a container of cut tomatoes in the cooler past its seven day hold time. PIC discarded the cut tomatoes.

● VFW, 1614 Marion-Marysville Road, Marion, Jan. 18. Chlorine sanitizing solution at incorrect temperature and/or concentration (critical, corrected during inspection). Observed the mechanical dishwasher not dispensing chlorine sanitizer. PIC will have food employees use the three-bay sink to sanitize dishes until the dishwasher has been repaired. Refrigerated, ready-to-eat, TCS foods not properly date marked (critical, corrected). Observed an opened bag of hot dogs not date marked in the bar cooler.

● Prospect American Legion, 308 S. Main St., P.O. Box 187, Prospect, Jan. 18. Handwashing sink is being used for purposes other than handwashing (critical, corrected during inspection). Observed a utensil in the kitchen handwashing sink. Food prepared in a private home used or offered for human consumption (critical, corrected). Observed a container of char sauce that the PIC said was made at a member's house and brought to the facility's kitchen for use. PIC threw away the char sauce. Refrigerated, ready-to-eat, TCS foods not properly date marked (critical, corrected). Did not observe a date on an opened jar of mushrooms. PIC discarded the mushrooms.

● El Campesino East, 160 McMahan Blvd., Marion, Jan. 19. Food not properly protected from contamination by separation, packaging and segregation (critical, corrected during inspection). Observed open containers of peppers in walk-in refrigerator with no cover. Ice bin in bar area needs a cover. Chlorine sanitizing solution at incorrect temperature and/or concentration (critical repeat, corrected). Observed the bar mechanical dishwasher not dispensing chlorine sanitizer at approved concentration levels. PIC will use the kitchen dishwasher for bar dishware until the dishwasher has been properly adjusted to dispense the correct amount of sanitizer.

● Gary's Drive Thru and Dino's Pizza, 810 Davids St., Marion, Jan. 22. Handwashing sink is being used for purposes other than handwashing (critical, corrected during inspection). Observed the drive-thru hand sink being used as a dump sink. Food not properly protected from contamination by separation (critical, corrected). Observed a carton of raw eggs on a shelf above packaged ready-to-eat food in the kitchen walk-in cooler. Equipment food-contact surfaces or utensils are unclean (critical, corrected). Observed a build-up of food debris on the can opener. Refrigerated, ready-to-eat, TCS foods not properly date marked (critical, corrected). Observed marinara cups not date marked.

● American Legion Post #162, 531 Bellefontaine Ave., Marion, Jan. 22. Handwashing sink is being used for purposes other than handwashing (critical, corrected during inspection). Observed cleaning products sitting in the hand sink in the kitchen.

● Marian Clark Center, 1183 Bellefontaine Ave., Marion, Jan. 22. Unapproved chemical sanitizer used on food contact surfaces (critical, corrected during inspection). Observed chlorine sanitizer above the approved concentration in the central kitchen.

This article originally appeared on Marion Star: Marion County restaurant inspections: critical violations Jan. 17-22