Cross-contamination risks and no hot water: Latest Stanislaus County health inspections
Stanislaus County health inspectors observed contamination risks at two Modesto restaurants and no hot water at hand-washing stations in two other food facilities during health inspections in late December and early January.
The majority of the 2,400 permitted food service establishments in the county receive two unannounced routine food safety inspections per year, according to the Department of Environmental Resources. The website says inspection reports are scanned weekly.
Food trucks that operate under a Stanislaus County Health Department permit also are inspected by the county, though those are scheduled and done at the department’s office.
Of the 28 restaurant inspection reports sent to The Modesto Bee on Wednesday, three were not updated on the site as of Thursday morning.
If an inspection listed below needs clarification, business owners can email Modesto Bee reporter Dominique Williams at dwilliams@modbee.com.
Cross-contamination risks among major violations
Violations were found during routine inspections of the following Stanislaus County food facilities during the week of Dec. 30 through Jan. 5. Only the dates of violations are listed.
The details of the reports do not indicate whether a restaurant passed or failed inspection. Corrective actions may have been made by the business by the time of publication.
The reports are linked. For updates on individual restaurants, search the DER website.
Sahara Market, 2508 Oakdale Road, Suite 6, in Modesto, had three violations Dec. 30. The floor sink under the three-compartment sink had stain/grime buildup. The rubber coving was not secure to the wall below the janitorial sink. The wall-mounted soap dispenser in the bathroom was empty.
Ono Hawaiian BBQ, 2225 Plaza Parkway in Modesto, had two violations Jan. 2 — one of them major. The hot water at both hand-washing stations in the kitchen was 70 degrees (must be between 100 and 108 degrees). The paper towel roll by the food prep area was not placed properly in the dispenser and required two hands to dispense a single paper towel.
Okawa Sushi & Grill, 3401 Oakdale Road, Suite 600, in Modesto, had three violations Jan. 2 — one of them major. Raw fish — some wrapped, some not — was stored on shelves above raw produce within the walk-in refrigerator, presenting a potential cross-contamination risk. The air duct above the raw sushi station was coated with dirt and grime, which is a potential source of contamination. Several bulk food containers in the kitchen were unlabeled. One pan of uncooked rice with a scoop had no protective covering.
The Pho, 3401 Oakdale Road, Suite 515, in Modesto, had three major violations Jan. 2. A milk container was stored within the ice bin, presenting a contamination risk. The hand-washing sink in the cashier area did not have a functioning hot water spigot. This sink had no paper towels in the dispenser. The hand-washing sink in the kitchen didn’t have a wall-mounted soap dispenser and had no paper towels in the dispenser.
Carnivore’s BBQ Sandwich Shop, 2685 Geer Road in Turlock, had five violations Jan. 3 — one of them major. Gravy was congealed and at 58 degrees in the steam table (must be 165 degrees or higher). The operator said he placed it in the steam table to warm, and it would eventually reach temperature because the steam table gets “very hot.” The facility does not have public restrooms, therefore onsite dining is not allowed. The permit to operate and food handler cards were lacking. The food safety manager certificate was expired.
Other food facilities with three or more, or major, violations at the time of their inspections are:
Bistro 120 (construction)
Pizza Twist (major violation corrected at time of inspection)
Minor violations
According to Stanislaus County, food facilities that had one to two violations, none of them major, are:
- Golden China Restaurant
- IHOP, 1625 Countryside Drive, Turlock
- McDonald’s, 2000 W. Main St., Turlock
- Save Mart, 3401 Oakdale Road, Modesto
- Strings Italian Cafe
No violations
These food facilities had no violations, according to the county:
- Ace Sushi at Save Mart, 3401 Oakdale Road, Modesto
- Arco ampm, 2015 W. Main St., Turlock
- Corn’d
- C.R. Fudge Company
- El Rancheros Mexican Food
- McDonald’s, 2601 Oakdale Road, Modesto
- SF Supermarket
- Starbucks, 3401 Oakdale Road, Suite 200, Modesto
- Subway, 2601 Oakdale Road, Suite N, Modesto
- Sunrise Inn Food Plaza
- Taco Bell, 2050 W. Main St., Turlock
- Vitality Bowls Superfood Cafe
This story was originally published January 16, 2025 at 10:27 AM.
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