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Cactus Grill

PASS

Friday, December 20, 2019 at 5:21 PM

Address
42 MAVERICK SQ
East Boston, MA 02128
Category
FT
Violations
8 total
⚠️ 3 critical
⚠ 1 major
Facility History
55 inspections
26 failures

Violations Cited

⚠️ CRITICAL 590.003/3-302.11-P
✓ Corrected

Packaged and Unpackaged Food-Separation Packaging and Segregation (P)

Walk in refrigerator un-organized buckets of raw chicken stored on top of other containers. Buckets of sour cream stored with raw chicken with juices on the lid of the container / Discard container of sour cream and re-organized walk in to provide proper separation of raw and ready to eat foods..

Why This Matters

DIRECT CONTAMINATION PATH: Raw chicken contains Salmonella (23% of samples) and Campylobacter (71% of samples). One drop of raw chicken juice can contaminate entire shelf below. Results in 1-3 million US illnesses annually.

Code Requirements

REORGANIZE IMMEDIATELY - Top to bottom: Ready-to-eat foods, Fish/Seafood (145°F), Whole meat/pork (145°F), Ground meat (155°F), Poultry (165°F) on bottom. Use separate coolers if needed. Cover all foods. Train all staff on proper order.

Mass. Code: 105 CMR 590.003 | FDA Code: Section 3
⚠️ CRITICAL 590.003/3-501.16-P
✓ Corrected

(A)(2) and (B) Time/Temperature Control for Safety Food Hot and Cold Holding (P)

Slabs of raw beef sitting out at room temperature 60F to prep after delivery / PIC moved to refrigeration after being there for 1 hour. / Provide proper cold holding temperatures of 41F or below.

Why This Matters

RAPID BACTERIAL GROWTH: At 50°F, E. coli doubles every 30 minutes. At 70°F, it doubles every 20 minutes. After 4 hours above 41°F, bacteria can reach dangerous levels causing severe illness. Common result: 24-72 hours of diarrhea, vomiting, fever, potential hospitalization.

Code Requirements

Immediately discard foods held above 41°F for over 4 hours. Rapidly cool foods above 41°F if less than 2 hours. Check ALL cooler temps every 2 hours with calibrated thermometer. Repair/adjust refrigeration immediately. Never store food in non-refrigerated areas.

Mass. Code: 105 CMR 590.003 | FDA Code: Section 3
⚠️ CRITICAL 590.003/3-501.16-P1
✓ Corrected

(A)(1) Time/Temperature Control for Safety Food Hot and Cold Holding (P)

Cooked fish 94F sitting on top of other containers in the steam table / PIC moved to reheat to 165F and will place directly into steam table / Discontinue placing containers on top of other containers and provide 135F or greater at all times.

Why This Matters

RAPID BACTERIAL GROWTH: At 50°F, E. coli doubles every 30 minutes. At 70°F, it doubles every 20 minutes. After 4 hours above 41°F, bacteria can reach dangerous levels causing severe illness. Common result: 24-72 hours of diarrhea, vomiting, fever, potential hospitalization.

Code Requirements

Immediately discard foods held above 41°F for over 4 hours. Rapidly cool foods above 41°F if less than 2 hours. Check ALL cooler temps every 2 hours with calibrated thermometer. Repair/adjust refrigeration immediately. Never store food in non-refrigerated areas.

Mass. Code: 105 CMR 590.003 | FDA Code: Section 3
⚠ MAJOR 590.004/4-301.11-PF
✓ Corrected

Cooling Heating and Holding Capacities-Equipment (Pf)

Both the walk in refrigerator and walk in freezer are fully stocked and hard to move around in / There is also more deliveries of food being prepped for the walk ins during the inspection. PIC states that deliveries come in 2-3 per week. The food is not being used fast enough to make more space for new deliveries / The PIC must either - provide additional units to accomodate the abundance of food to ensure proper holding temperatures revise the menu to decrease the amount of food needed or decrease the frequency of deliveries.

Why This Matters

Improper equipment maintenance can harbor bacteria and contaminate food

Code Requirements

Immediate correction required. Follow health code section 105 CMR 590.004. Implement proper equipment procedures. Train all staff. Document corrective actions taken.

Mass. Code: 105 CMR 590.004 | FDA Code: Section 4
• MINOR 590.003/3-304.12-C
✓ Corrected

In-Use Utensils Between-Use Storage (C)

In use tongs and knives stored in stagnant water / Discontinue and store as described below.

Why This Matters

This violation affects overall sanitation and food safety

Code Requirements

Immediate correction required. Follow health code section 105 CMR 590.003. Implement proper equipment procedures. Train all staff. Document corrective actions taken.

Mass. Code: 105 CMR 590.003 | FDA Code: Section 3
• MINOR 590.003/3-305.11-C
✓ Corrected

Food Storage-Preventing Contamination from the Premises (C)

Buckets of food stored on floor in basement / Elevate at least 6" off of floor.

Why This Matters

This violation affects overall sanitation and food safety

Code Requirements

Immediate correction required. Follow health code section 105 CMR 590.003. Implement proper food storage procedures. Train all staff. Document corrective actions taken.

Mass. Code: 105 CMR 590.003 | FDA Code: Section 3
• MINOR 590.003/3-501.13-C
✓ Corrected

Thawing (C)

Bags of frozen chicken thawing at room temperature / Discontinue and properly thaw as discussed during inspection

Why This Matters

SURFACE CONTAMINATION: Room temperature thawing allows surface to reach 70°F+ while interior frozen. Bacteria multiply 7-fold every hour. Creates perfect conditions for Salmonella, Campylobacter growth. Major factor in poultry-related illnesses.

Code Requirements

Approved thawing methods ONLY: Under refrigeration (best), Under cold running water (70°F) in sink, In microwave if cooking immediately, As part of cooking process. NEVER at room temperature. Plan ahead for slow thawing.

Mass. Code: 105 CMR 590.003 | FDA Code: Section 3
• MINOR 590.004/4-602.13-C
✓ Corrected

Nonfood Contact Surfaces (C)

Equipment on cook line with visible soils and spatter / Provide a deep cleaning to all equipment (front sides and underneath) on cook line

Why This Matters

This violation affects overall sanitation and food safety

Code Requirements

Immediate correction required. Follow health code section 105 CMR 590.004. Implement proper food safety procedures. Train all staff. Document corrective actions taken.

Mass. Code: 105 CMR 590.004 | FDA Code: Section 4
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Data sourced directly from Boston Inspectional Services Department