Undated chopped beef, leaking pipes, rodents? Abilene's weekly restaurant inspections
The city of Abilene Environmental Health Division regularly monitors restaurants and food establishments for compliance with state food safety requirements.
Frequent inspections are essential in preventing the spread of foodborne illnesses through contamination and improper handling, storage and sanitation.
Scores for retail food establishments, food stores, mobile food units and school and daycare establishments inspected the week of May 13-19 are listed below.
Disclaimer: On any given day, an establishment may have fewer or more violations than noted in its most recent inspection. An inspection conducted on any given day may not be representative of the overall, long-term conditions at the establishment. A few more recent, follow-up inspections may not be included here.
Perfect Scores
Taylor County Juvenile Justice Center, 889 South 25th Street, Abilene: 100
AFC Sushi at Market Street, 4450 Buffalo Gap Road, Abilene: 100
High to Moderates Scores
Grace and Mercy Community Church, 1402 Grape Street, Abilene: 99
HTeaO, 3210 South 14th Street, Abilene: 98
Life Nutrition Products, 901 T&P Lane, Abilene: 98
Sonic, 1442 Barrow Street, Abilene: 97
The Ice House at Lone Star Dry Goods, 173 Walnut Street, Abilene: 97
Early Headstart, 3282 South 13th Street, Abilene: 97
AFC Sushi at United Supermarkets, 2160 Pine Street, Abilene: 96
Wingstop, 4102 Buffalo Gap Road, Suite C, Abilene: 94
Cicis Pizza, 3366 Turner Plaza, Abilene: 90
Low Scores and Why
Church's Fried Chicken, 4026 North First Street, Abilene: 89
Inspector Notes: Three repeat violations and two violations corrected on site.
Fried chicken drumstick located on the edge of the heat lamp for hot holding since 12 p.m. was held at 130 degrees at 2:20 p.m. for less than 4 hours. The drumstick was moved to the area covered by the heat lamp by the manager.
Lemonade nozzle at the soda machine was not clean to sight and touch. Observed black, mold-like debris on the inside of the nozzle.
Improper storage of toxic items. Observed a spray bottle of sanitizer hanging off a sink. Corrected on site by an employee.
Establishment not inspecting the premises for presence of insects, rodents and other pests. Observed multiple flies in the establishment.
Wet wiping cloth at a sink was not stored between uses in a sanitation bucket.
Chili's Grill & Bar, 4302 South Clack Street, Abilene: 88
Inspector Notes: Four repeat violations. Requires follow-up.
Priority violation: Observed multiple clean utensils on clean dish shelves with food residues on the food contact surface of food containers, not clean to sight and touch.
Priority violation: Observed improper waste disposal. Observed a leaking drain line in the dish wash area with a plastic food container underneath to catch liquid waste. The establishment has three days from this inspection date to fix the leaking pipe. $75 reinspection fee due at time of reinspection.
The person in charge shall demonstrate this knowledge by complying with these rules by having no critical violations or priority items during the current inspection. The facility has two priority violations.
Observed multiple employees with exposed hair and not wearing a hat or hair net.
Observed food stored in an environment that is not clean and dry. Observed water and food debris on the floor, in the walk-in freezer. Food shall be protected from contamination by storing the food in a clean, dry location.
Observed food residues on nonfood-contact surfaces of equipment throughout the kitchen area. Nonfood-contact surfaces of equipment shall be kept free of an accumulation of dust, dirt, food residue and other debris.
Observed food debris on the kitchen floor. Physical facilities shall be cleaned as often as necessary to keep them clean.
Allsup's, 2550 South Clack Street, Abilene: 85
Inspector Notes: Three repeat violations and two violations corrected on site.
Chopped beef held in the reach-in cooler for more than 24 hours was not date marked. Chopped beef container was opened the morning before inspection. Corrected on site by the manager.
Cappuccino machine nozzles were not clean to sight and touch. Observed food debris on the nozzles.
Establishment has a spray bottle, at a sink, of solutions that are not properly labeled.
Refrigerated, ready-to-eat container of chopped beef prepared and packaged by a food processing plant is not clearly marked. Chopped beef was opened the day before inspection. Corrected on site by the manager.
Observed ice cream sandwiches being stored in the hand-washing sink. The hand-washing sink may only be used for hand washing. Corrected on site by an employee.
Failure to wear hair nets, head bands, caps, beard covers, appropriate hair restraints in an effective manner.
Wet wiping cloths by a sink were not stored between uses in a sanitizer bucket.
Allsup's, 2702 Ambler Avenue, Abilene: 85
Inspector Notes: Six repeat violations.
Chopped beef held in the walk-in cooler for more than 24 hours was held past the discard date mark "5/10/24."
Slushie machine nozzles were not clean to sight and touch. Observed food debris on the nozzles of the machine.
Improper storage of toxic items. Observed cleaner stored next to the microwave oven on the counter. Store chemicals in a separate area away from food and food equipment.
A sanitizing solution test kit for measuring the concentration of sanitizing solution was not provided.
Observed the hand-washing sink being used to store a green scouring sponge. The hand-washing sink may only be used for hand washing.
Failure to wear hair nets, head bands, caps, beard covers, appropriate hair restraints in an effective manner.
Physical facilities are not maintained in good repair. Observed a broken wall corner by the office area. Observed ceiling tiles with water damage.
Little Panda Chinese Restaurant, 3390 Rebecca Lane, Abilene: 84
Inspector Notes: Two repeat violations and five violations corrected on site.
Cut celery was not protected from cross contamination during prep. Observed the box of cut celery stored on top of the garbage can. Corrected on site by the manager.
Can opener blade was not clean to sight and touch. Observed debris/rust build up on the blade of the can opener.
Food employees did not wash hands according to the correct hand-washing procedure. Observed an employee wash their cloth meat-glove in water at a sink. The employee was corrected on site, took off their gloves and used soap and paper towels to wash their hands and arms.
Improper storage of toxic items. Observed employee medications stored next to soda machine syrup on the storage rack. Corrected on site by the owner.
Observed employee rinse off their gloved hand at a sink. Corrected on site.
Observed the hand-washing sink, by another sink, being used to store large pan lids. Corrected on site by an employee.
No Score Given
Kids Kampus North, 2533 North 12th Street, Abilene.
Inspector Notes: No score given. Six repeat violations.
Observed open containers of jelly that were marked "refrigerate after opening" stored in a pantry. Employee discarded the product.
Observed raw hamburger immediately next to fresh strawberries and raw eggs stored immediately above the fruit. Strawberries were discarded.
Observed non-pasteurized eggs in the refrigerator. Eggs were said to be for employees and removed.
The facility did not have test strips on hand for the sanitizing solution. Person in charge stated she will acquire them today.
Observed access to the hand-wash station was blocked. Employee was using the space to prepare food.
Rodents and roaches are still present. Establishment has three days to provide pest records and proof of new treatment.
Observed paper plates not stored in original packaging and were not otherwise covered, wrapped, or protected.
Observed dirt and debris on the bottom of kitchen drawers and cabinets and buildup of grime on top of the refrigerator.
Observed damage to the wall next to the ceiling in a cabinet and a door separating the kitchen and dining room that was coming apart. Facility must be in a state of good repair.
Inspection comments: Person in charge agrees to ensure kitchen will be cleaned and sanitized every day while working the pest control issue. Person in charge will provide pest control records within three business days or a reinspection will be accomplished and a $75 reinspection fee will be charged.
To report a food establishment that is not following safe food-handling practices, call Environmental Health at 325- 437-4590 to initiate a complaint. Be prepared to provide specific details about the name and address of the facility, the date and time the unsafe practice was observed, and the exact practice in question.
This article originally appeared on Abilene Reporter-News: Abilene weekly restaurant inspections: Who did not make the grade?
