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THAI BASIL

PASS

Tuesday, May 9, 2017 at 4:10 PM

Address
132 NEWBURY ST
Back Bay, MA 02116
Category
FS
Violations
9 total
⚠️ 5 critical
Facility History
78 inspections
35 failures

Violations Cited

⚠️ CRITICAL 01-3-201.11
✓ Corrected

Approved Source

Greens received in cardboard boxes wrapped in newspaper Invoice provided handwritten with no company name. Unable to verify source at time of inspection. Provide proper information and ensure products are provided from approved wholesale

Why This Matters

SEVERE PUBLIC HEALTH THREAT: Unapproved sources bypass all safety controls. Home-prepared foods have caused botulism deaths. Uninspected meat may contain parasites, E. coli O157:H7, or BSE prions. Black market foods linked to tuberculosis, brucellosis outbreaks. Illegal dairy products cause Listeria infections killing 20% of victims. One contaminated batch can sicken hundreds across multiple locations.

Code Requirements

ALL food MUST be from: Licensed, permitted, inspected suppliers; USDA inspected meat and poultry; Grade A dairy products; Approved shellfish dealers on Interstate Certified Shellfish Shippers List; No home-prepared foods EVER; No wild mushrooms unless certified; Documentation required for all suppliers; Invoices must be kept 90 days.

Corrective Actions

IMMEDIATE: Discard ALL food from unapproved sources; Obtain approved supplier list from health department; Verify all current suppliers are licensed; Create approved supplier program; Train receiving staff on checking sources; Post list of approved suppliers

Mass. Code: 105 CMR 590.003(A) | FDA Code: Section 3-201.11
⚠️ CRITICAL 03-3-501.16(A)
✓ Corrected

Cold Holding

Cooked tofu on shelving 86F. Properly cool and cold hold product at 41F or below. PIC states product cooked 1 hour prior to inspection. Placed into smaller containers and placed in walkin at 36F at time of inspection

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)
⚠️ CRITICAL 03-401.11-.12
✓ Corrected

Cooking Temperatures

Establishment is partially cooking chicken- Discontinue Product must be cold held raw or cooked to the proper temperature through a complete cooking process properly cooled and then cold held at 41F or below

Why This Matters

DEADLY CONSEQUENCES: Undercooked foods kill. Salmonella in undercooked chicken affects 1.35 million Americans yearly, killing 420. E. coli O157:H7 in undercooked ground beef causes kidney failure in children. Undercooked pork can transmit Trichinella parasites. Raw eggs may contain Salmonella Enteritidis. Just 10 E. coli bacteria can cause severe illness. Cooking is the ONLY step that kills pathogens in contaminated food.

Code Requirements

MINIMUM COOKING TEMPERATURES: Poultry (chicken, turkey, duck): 165°F for 15 seconds; Ground meats (beef, pork, lamb): 155°F for 15 seconds; Eggs for hot holding: 155°F for 15 seconds; Whole meats (beef, pork, lamb): 145°F for 15 seconds; Fish and seafood: 145°F for 15 seconds; Reheated foods: 165°F within 2 hours; Microwave cooking: 165°F and let stand 2 minutes. MUST verify with calibrated thermometer in thickest part.

Corrective Actions

IMMEDIATE: Continue cooking ALL undercooked items to proper temperature; Discard if cannot reheat properly; Calibrate all thermometers NOW; Post cooking temperature chart at all stations; Assign temperature checking to specific staff; Log all cooking temperatures; Retrain all cooks immediately

Mass. Code: 105 CMR 590.003(D) | FDA Code: Section 3-401.11, 3-401.12
⚠️ CRITICAL 12-2-301.12-.15
✓ Corrected

Adequate Handwashing/Where/When/How

Employees washing hands at prep sink and 3 bay sink- Employees must use handwash sinks for handwashing

Why This Matters

Inadequate handwashing is a leading cause of foodborne illness transmission

Code Requirements

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

FDA Code: Section 12.2.301
⚠️ CRITICAL 20-4-703.11
✓ Corrected

Food Contact Surfaces Clean

Chlorine sanitizer at 200+ppm. Ensure sanitizer is maintained at 50-100ppm Corrected at time of inspection

Why This Matters

INVISIBLE KILLERS: Bacteria survive on 'clean-looking' surfaces for days. Inadequate sanitization caused Salmonella outbreak affecting 1,500 people via ice cream. Cutting boards can harbor 200 times more fecal bacteria than toilet seats. E. coli survives 1-4 hours on surfaces. Norovirus survives 2 weeks. One contaminated slicer infected 300 people with Listeria.

Code Requirements

SANITIZATION MANDATORY: Chemical sanitizers: Chlorine 50-100 ppm, Quaternary Ammonium 200-400 ppm, Iodine 12.5-25 ppm; Hot water: 171°F for 30 seconds by immersion; Contact time: minimum 7-30 seconds depending on sanitizer; Test concentration EVERY 2 hours; Change solution when visibly soiled; ALL food contact surfaces must be sanitized: After each use with different foods; When switching raw to ready-to-eat; Every 4 hours in continuous use.

Corrective Actions

IMMEDIATE: Set up proper sanitizer at ALL stations; Test and adjust concentration NOW; Re-sanitize ALL food contact surfaces; Obtain test strips immediately; Post sanitizer concentration chart; Train staff on test strip use; Create sanitization log; Change solutions every 2 hours minimum

Mass. Code: 105 CMR 590.004(G) | FDA Code: Section 4-703.11
• MINOR 15-4-202.16
✓ Corrected

Non-Food Contact Surfaces

Shelving in walkin with rust- repair/replace Shelving in dry storage and in kitchen heavily worn exposing unfinished wood- Make proper repairs

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 15.4.202
• MINOR 23-4-602.13
✓ Corrected

Non-Food Contact Surfaces Clean

Shelving in kitchen with heavy grease and dust- 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

Mass. Code: 105 CMR 590.004(G) | FDA Code: Section 4-602.13
• MINOR 29-5-201/02.11
✓ Corrected

Installed and Maintained

Handwash sink at prep area leaking heavily from pipe below- Make proper repairs

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 29.5.201
• MINOR 36-6-501.11-.12
✓ Corrected

Improper Maintenance of Floors

Soils and debris on floors below shelving- Clean

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

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