Cockroach found on rehabilitation center employee’s leg shuts facility down

These are summaries of Albuquerque Environmental Health restaurant inspections. For more information or to view previous reports, visit cabq.gov/environmentalhealth/food-safety.

GREEN: Food establishment received a passing grade, demonstrating the skills to create a safe and sanitary food-service environment.

YELLOW: Food establishment can operate but must follow a plan to correct violations observed during inspection.

RED: Food establishment had major violations that presented an imminent hazard and required an immediate downgrade or closure.

Nov. 23-29

GREEN

Cheba Hut, 115 Harvard SE (Nov. 26) (Class B, Class C)

Clay Pot Cuisine, 1601 4th NW (Nov. 25)

Inn Suites, 2400 Yale SE (Nov. 25)

La Petite Academy Inc., 6420 Gibson SE (Nov. 24)

Maverik, 9701 Bluewater NW (Nov. 26)

McDonald’s, 9515 Candelaria NE (Nov. 24)

Remedy Coffee, 1816 Lomas NW (Nov. 25)

Royal Empire, 335 Woodward SE (Nov. 25)

Ruben’s Grill, 9708 Candelaria NE (Nov. 24)

Sbarro, 6600 Menaul NE (Nov. 25)

Solano House, 1419 Solano NE (Nov. 25)

Sonic Drive-In, 9900 Montgomery NE (Nov. 25)

Sprouts, 5112 Lomas NE (Nov. 24)

YELLOW

Cheba Hut, 115 Harvard SE (Nov. 26) (Class C)

Remedy Coffee, 1816 Lomas NW (Nov. 25)

Speedway, 201 Coors NW (Nov. 26)

RED

Chispita, 6600 Menaul NE

The facility was instructed to continue cleaning regularly to prevent accumulation. The person in charge was instructed to continue sealing gaps, holes, cracks and crevices to prevent harborage and entry points for pests.

Result: Unsatisfactory (Nov. 24); re-inspection required (Nov. 24)

Einstein Bros. Bagels, 11255 Menaul NE

Wiping cloths were improperly stored on a rolling cart with clean utensils and equipment. Ready-to-eat time/temperature control for safety food prepared and held within the establishment lacked date-marking indicators. An inadequate air gap was observed at both sinks, which could allow contaminated water to foul the drinking water system. Food employees were observed without a valid food handler card. Working containers holding various spices were removed from their original packaging, lacking proper labeling or identification. Food items in the walk-in cooler, including milk, sauces and cream cheese, measured above the required cold holding temperature of 41 degrees. The walk-in cooler was insufficient for properly holding food cold, with an ambient air temperature recorded at 51 degrees. The facility failed to provide lockers or other suitable facilities for the storage of employees’ personal belongings, creating a risk of contamination. Food employees were observed not washing their hands when required, specifically not washing or sanitizing their hands when donning new gloves. A three-compartment sink was being used for warewashing without the necessary water rinse step. The floor by the coffee dispensing area was lifting and not sealed, which is a structural defect that compromises the physical facility.

Result: Unsatisfactory (Nov. 24); re-inspection required (Nov. 24)

Sonic Drive-In, 9900 Montgomery NE

The quaternary ammonium compound sanitizing solution utilized in both kitchen buckets failed to meet sanitization parameters, measuring 0 ppm. The front three-compartment sink faucet was leaking, indicating the plumbing system was not maintained in good repair. An inadequate air gap was observed at the three-compartment sink, risking contamination through backflow. The hood ventilation system was inadequately collecting grease and condensation, leading to accumulation and drips. Various food items in the upright cooler were not protected from contamination during storage because they were not covered. The men’s restroom had inadequate lighting due to a burned-out light bulb. A direct connection was observed between the sewage system and drains under the ice cream prep station and other drains. There was buildup and debris observed on the floors, walls and shelving.

Result: Unsatisfactory (Nov. 25); re-inspection required (Nov. 25); passed follow-up inspection (Nov. 25)

Thai Cuisine, 6200 Coors NW

Utensils, including the can opener blade, scoops and service utensils, were soiled with dried food debris and residue. The warewashing machine was observed to be soiled and dirty with significant debris buildup. The facility had inadequate procedures to effectively control pests, with pest activity observed under prep tables, storage racks, on walls, inside cooking equipment and on container lids. Dead cockroaches were allowed to accumulate on the floors throughout the facility, particularly in the dining room and warewashing area. The wiping cloths bucket used for sanitizing surfaces was improperly stored directly on the ground. Ready-to-eat TCS food, including cut melon, unknown sauces and red curry, was held in the walk-in cooler and prep top cooler was undated. Utensils such as bus tubs, scoops and storage containers were in a state of poor repair, being damaged, torn, chipped or cracked. The cutting surface was observed with deep scratches and scoring, limiting the ability to be effectively cleaned and sanitized, and was significantly discolored. Numerous containers storing food were made of nonfood-grade material, were not stamped with NSF and had significant debris buildup. The PIC was unable to demonstrate knowledge of foodborne disease prevention and other requirements, and failed to prevent an imminent health hazard like the cockroach infestation. Unpackaged food items, specifically rice and onions, were not protected from contamination as they were stored uncovered in the outdoor shipping container. The doors to the outside were not tight-fitting, as light could be seen along the bottom, which allows for pest entry. Unnecessary, nonfunctional and heavily soiled items (multiple cooking equipment/utensils) were observed inside the outdoor shipping container. Food was improperly stored in an outdoor shipping container being used as a storage area for gasoline, soiled linens, soiled cleaning equipment and ladders, creating miscellaneous sources of contamination. Food items like containers of bamboo shoots, open containers of rice, open containers of tempura powder and various sauces were improperly stored less than six inches off the floor in the outside shipping container. The kitchen had an inadequate amount of lighting because bulbs were burned out or barely functional. An employee was observed wearing unapproved wrist jewelry while handling open food and cooking. Food employees were observed not washing their hands upon arrival for work, when donning gloves, when preparing food and when switching tasks. There was significant buildup and debris observed on the kitchen floors, floor drains and walls. Utensils in use (rice scoop, scoops and cups) were stored incorrectly, being submerged in food, having handles touching the food or stored in water below the required 135 degrees. Clean single-service and single-use articles (deli cups and lids) were stored directly on the ground in the outside storage container. Nonfood contact surfaces throughout the kitchen, including racks, shelving, coolers, freezers, carts and equipment sides, had a significant accumulation of debris buildup. A significant number of holes, gaps, cracks and crevices were observed throughout the walls, floors, ceiling and door jams in the kitchen.

Result: Closure (Nov. 24); re-inspection required (Nov. 24)

Uptown Rehabilitation Center, 7900 Constitution NE

The chlorine sanitizing solution utilized in the wiping cloth container failed to meet parameters, measuring 0 ppm. The cutting blade of the can opener had food debris, and an orange and black mold-like substance was observed on the interior of the ice machine near the ice chute. The facility has inadequate procedures to effectively control pests, despite utilizing a professional pest control operator monthly. Live cockroaches were observed throughout the facility, including on an employee’s pant leg, with 100 present. Pre-made salad bowls in the upright cooler were considered ready-to-eat TCS food but lacked date markings. The PIC was unable to demonstrate knowledge of foodborne disease prevention and other requirements. The floor drain was found in disrepair with trash debris buildup. An inadequate air gap was observed at the floor drain near the warewash machine, risking backflow. Food employees were observed not possessing a food handler card. A plastic food container storing fresh jalapenos was removed from its original packaging but lacked proper identification. Doors to the outside were not tight-fitting, as light could be seen at the edges. Oven-roasted chicken breast stored in the walk-in freezer was exposed to contamination because it was uncovered. The facility had no/expired testing kit or device to measure the concentration of the chemical sanitizing solution. A food employee was observed without proper hair restraints while working at a food prep table. A food employee had an improper drink (Monster energy drink in a metal can) in the warewash room. Food employees were observed not washing their hands when required, specifically when switching tasks and donning new gloves. Missing and broken wall cove tiles indicated the wall and wall cove were in disrepair.

Result: Closure (Nov. 24); re-inspection required (Nov. 24)