MERENGUE RESTAURANT
PASSFriday, April 12, 2013 at 3:45 PM
Violations Cited
03-3-501.14
Cooling
Pork cooked yesterday in walk in refrigerator between 48F and 52F. PIC voluntarily discarded.
Why This Matters
This violation directly contributes to foodborne illness risk
Code Requirements
Immediate correction required. Follow health code section . Implement proper food safety procedures. Train all staff. Document corrective actions taken.
03-3-501.16
Hot Holding
Fried pork skins at 65F in bucket in kitchen. Must be keeped at 140F or above.
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
03-3-501.16(A)
Cold Holding
Oil and garlic at 66F. Must be keep at or beloe 41F.
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
08-3-302.11/3-304.11
Separation Segregation Cross Contamination
Raw chicken stored above raw beef cooked beef stored next to raw pork in three door refrigerator. PIC corrected and will review with staff. Eggs stored above vegetables. PIC corrected.
Why This Matters
Cross-contamination can spread dangerous pathogens throughout the facility
Code Requirements
Immediate correction required. Follow health code section . Implement proper food safety procedures. Train all staff. Document corrective actions taken.
12-2-401.11-.12
Good Hygienic Practices
Staff drinking from open container on cook line and bar area. Discontinue.
Why This Matters
This violation directly contributes to foodborne illness risk
Code Requirements
Immediate correction required. Follow health code section . Implement proper food safety procedures. Train all staff. Document corrective actions taken.
31-5-204/05.11
Location Accessible
Hand sink on cook line blocked with gary buckets. PIC corrected. Monitor and keeo area clear.
Why This Matters
FORCED NON-COMPLIANCE: Blocked sinks force employees to skip handwashing. Studies show 89% compliance when sinks accessible vs 35% when blocked. Each skipped handwash potentially contaminates multiple food items. Inaccessible sinks contributed to Hepatitis A outbreak affecting 660 people.
Code Requirements
Handwashing sinks must be: Accessible at ALL times; Used ONLY for handwashing; Located within 25 feet of food prep; Clear of all equipment and supplies; Never used for food prep, dishwashing, or chemical disposal; Minimum one sink per 5 workers during peak times.
Corrective Actions
Clear ALL handwashing sinks immediately; Post 'Handwashing Only' signs; Relocate any blocking equipment; Provide alternative sinks for other uses; Train staff on sink designation; Monitor hourly for compliance
M-2-103.11
PIC Performing Duties
PIC not monitoring holding temperatures cooling process and cleaning of location.
Why This Matters
EXTREME RISK: Without active management, ALL five CDC risk factors go unchecked. Studies show restaurants without certified managers have 2.5 times more critical violations. Lack of supervision leads to: temperature abuse (bacteria double every 20 minutes), cross-contamination spreading pathogens, sick employees working with food, improper cooking allowing pathogen survival. This single violation enables conditions for major outbreaks.
Code Requirements
PIC MUST: Be present during ALL operating hours; Hold valid food safety certification; Actively monitor employee health and hygiene; Ensure proper cooking, cooling, and holding temperatures; Verify foods from approved sources; Monitor handwashing compliance; Ensure equipment properly sanitized; Take immediate corrective actions for violations; Demonstrate knowledge to health inspector; Train and supervise all food employees.
Corrective Actions
IMMEDIATE: Designate qualified PIC immediately; If no certified manager available, cease operations; Implement active managerial control system; Create monitoring logs for all CDC risk factors; Retrain management on responsibilities; Post PIC duties checklist
02-3-602.11-.12/3-302.12
Food Container Labels
Not all bulk food containers labeled. Provide labels for all bulk foods.
Why This Matters
Improper labeling can lead to using wrong or expired ingredients
Code Requirements
Immediate correction required. Follow health code section . Implement proper food labeling procedures. Train all staff. Document corrective actions taken.
08-3-305-307.11
Food Protection
Not all food in storage was covered. Provide covers. Food stored in store type shopping bags in freezer. Provide proper containers. Juice made on location stored in milk container. Provide proper containers.
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.
16-4-501.11/.15
Dishwashng Facilities
Provide drain plugs for each bay of three bay sink. Rinse gauge for dishwasher not working properly. Have repaired.
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.
21-3-304.14
Wiping Cloths Clean Sanitize
Wiping cloths stored on cutting boards and shelves. Store properly in a bucket with sanitizer.
Why This Matters
This violation affects overall sanitation and food safety
Code Requirements
Immediate correction required. Follow health code section . Implement proper cleaning & sanitization procedures. Train all staff. Document corrective actions taken.
23-4-602.13
Non-Food Contact Surfaces Clean
Shelves in kitchen above three bay sink and prep table soiled with dried food and grime. Clean to remove. Shelves in walk in refrigerator soiled with dried food. Clean Exterior of bulk food container soiled with grime. Clean
Why This Matters
INDIRECT CONTAMINATION: Dirty surfaces attract pests, harbor bacteria, and contaminate via contact or air movement. Dust from dirty shelves contains allergens affecting 32 million Americans. Grease accumulation creates slip hazards causing 25% of restaurant injuries.
Code Requirements
Non-food contact surfaces must be cleaned at frequency to prevent: Soil accumulation; Pest attraction; Contamination of food/food contact surfaces. Includes: Equipment exteriors; Shelving; Walls and ceilings; Light fixtures; Ventilation systems.
Corrective Actions
Deep clean all non-food contact surfaces; Create cleaning schedule with daily, weekly, monthly tasks; Assign cleaning zones to staff; Use degreaser for grease accumulation; Clean from top to bottom; Maintain cleaning log
33-5-501.13-.17
Adequate Number Frequency Vermin Proof
Barrels in kitchen not covered. Provide covers for barrels in kitchen and prep in bacement.
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.
36-6-501.11-.12
Improper Maintenance of Floors
Floors under cooking equipment dish washer soiled with grime and dried food. Clean Floor in basement peeling. Address.
Why This Matters
CONTAMINATION RESERVOIR: Damaged floors harbor bacteria in cracks. Standing water breeds Listeria, Pseudomonas. Broken tiles create pest harborage. Floor contamination spreads via shoes, equipment wheels, and dropped items. CDC found floor drains positive for Listeria in 40% of retail delis.
Code Requirements
Floors must be: Smooth and non-porous in food areas; Properly sloped to drains (1/8 to 1/4 inch per foot); Coving at wall junctures sealed; No cracks, holes, or missing tiles; Grout intact and sealed; Cleaned daily or more frequently; Dry except when cleaning.
Corrective Actions
Schedule floor repairs within 30 days; Seal all cracks immediately with approved sealant; Improve drainage to eliminate standing water; Increase cleaning frequency; Replace missing tiles; Re-grout as needed; Remove any carpeting from food areas