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El Paisa Restaurant No. 2

PASS

Friday, April 26, 2019 at 6:19 PM

Address
215 BORDER ST
East Boston, MA 02128
Category
FS
Violations
4 total
⚠️ 2 critical
Facility History
12 inspections
6 failures

Violations Cited

⚠️ CRITICAL 03-3-501.16
✓ Corrected

Hot Holding

Fried chicken 90F sausage 78F / Items made an hour ago during morning prep. PIC stated that the steam table was not working this morning. Items will removed and re-heated and held on the stove as there is limited hot holding space available. / Provide proper hot holding temperatures

Why This Matters

This violation directly contributes to foodborne illness risk

Code Requirements

Maintain all hot TCS foods at 135°F or above; Cannot use hot holding equipment to reheat

FDA Code: Section 03.3.501
⚠️ CRITICAL 03-3-501.16(A)
✓ Corrected

Cold Holding

Cut tomato salsa - 55F Guacamole 60F Raw shell eggs 73F / Items made daily in the morning (10am) Items returned to stand up reach in to cool down / Discussed keeping the unit covered as it is across from the grill area. / Provide proper cold holding temperatures.

Why This Matters

THE DANGER ZONE KILLS: Between 41°F-135°F bacteria double every 20 minutes. At 70°F, 10 bacteria become 10,000 in 2 hours, 10 million in 4 hours. Staphylococcus aureus produces heat-stable toxins that cooking cannot destroy. Clostridium perfringens causes 1 million illnesses yearly from temperature abuse. Listeria grows even under refrigeration, killing 20% of victims including pregnant women and newborns.

Code Requirements

ALL TCS foods MUST be held at 41°F or below at ALL times. This includes: All meat, poultry, seafood; Dairy products; Cut melons, tomatoes, leafy greens; Cooked rice, pasta, potatoes; Tofu, soy products; Sprouts; Garlic in oil. Check temperatures every 2 hours (4 hours maximum). If above 41°F for less than 2 hours, rapidly cool. If above 41°F for 2-4 hours, use immediately. If above 41°F for over 4 hours, DISCARD.

Corrective Actions

IMMEDIATE: Check ALL refrigerated foods NOW; Discard any food above 41°F for >4 hours; Rapidly cool foods 41-70°F if <4 hours; Repair/adjust all refrigeration immediately; Reduce inventory to prevent overstocking; Install thermometers in warmest part of all coolers; Implement 2-hour temperature checks; Create power outage procedure

Mass. Code: 105 CMR 590.003(D) | FDA Code: Section 3-501.16(A)(2)
• MINOR 04-3-501.15/4-301.11
✓ Corrected

Inadequate Facilities/Cooling Methods

Steam table on service line is not working / Repair unit in order to properly hold hot foods at 140F or greater. Unit will not be used until repair is made

Why This Matters

This violation affects overall sanitation and food safety

Code Requirements

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

FDA Code: Section 04.3.501
• MINOR 37-6-501.11-.12
✓ Corrected

Improper Maintenance of Walls/Ceilings

Ceiling tiles and vents with visible dust build up / Clean to remove

Why This Matters

OVERHEAD CONTAMINATION: Peeling paint and debris fall into food. Condensation on ceilings drips bacteria onto prep surfaces. Studies found ceiling tiles harbor Bacillus cereus spores. Restaurant ceiling collapse contaminated food service for 200 guests.

Code Requirements

Walls/ceilings must be: Smooth and washable in food areas; Light-colored for easy soil detection; Free of holes, cracks, peeling paint; Sealed at all joints and attachments; Clean and free of grease, dust, cobwebs; Non-absorbent in areas subject to moisture.

Corrective Actions

Repair all holes within 14 days; Repaint with washable paint; Replace damaged ceiling tiles; Seal all penetrations; Clean walls and ceilings monthly; Fix any leaks immediately; Install FRP panels in splash zones

Mass. Code: 105 CMR 590.006(B) | FDA Code: Section 6-501.11, 6-501.12
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Data sourced directly from Boston Inspectional Services Department