Stanislaus County health inspectors find mouse droppings in a Modesto donut shop
Stanislaus County health inspectors observed mouse dropping in a Modesto donut shop during inspections in early February.
The majority of the 2,400 permitted food service establishments in the county get 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 45 restaurant inspection reports sent to The Modesto Bee on Friday, seven were not updated on the site as of Tuesday morning.
Mouse droppings among major violations
Violations were found during routine inspections of the following Stanislaus County food facilities during the week of Feb. 2-8. 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.
Donut Delite, 1460 Mitchell Road, Suite I, in Modesto, had four violations on Feb. 2. Mouse droppings were seen on shelving holding bags of flour. The lower shelving area of the donut display had food debris accumulation. The counter with coffee makers had grime and food debris accumulation. The entire floor, window framing, lower wall area and the hood system had food debris and grease accumulation.
All violations were noted as corrected during a reinspection on Feb. 10.
Carnitas Michoacan, 3220 Atchison St. in Riverbank, had eight violations on Feb. 2 — two of them major. Employees were not following the proper three-step ware-washing method. The employee bathroom was lacking functional paper towel and toilet paper dispensers. Bulk containers of cooked meat were stored without lids. An open bulk bag of salt was stored directly on the floor.
The prep area was disorganized: Multiple broken and unused pieces of kitchen equipment were stored haphazardly. The inner shield of the ice machine was soiled with grime. Pressurized carbon-dioxide cylinders were not fastened to a rigid structure.
Chevron, 2468 Third St. in Hughson, had three violations on Feb. The interior surface of the ice machine interior had grime buildup. The hot water temperature at the three-compartment sink was 119 degrees (must be 120 degrees minimum) and the wastewater pipe at this sink was leaking .
Gold Dust Pizza, 830 N. Yosemite Ave. in Oakdale, had four violations on Feb. 3 — one of them major. The three-compartment sink was leaking. Two of the prep tables were leaking condensate on the floor. The food safety certification and food handler cards were not available .
Ah Huevo, 101 E. Glenn Ave., Suite J, in Modesto, had seven violations on Feb. 4 — three of them major. Raw meat was stored on top of cheese and cooked shrimp in the walk-in refrigerator. A handwashing sink measured a maximum water temperature of 60 degrees (must be 100 to 108 degrees). One refrigerator measured an ambient air temperature of 43 degrees (must be 41 degrees or lower). Cut watermelon inside the refrigerator measured an internal temperature of 43 degrees.
Several pieces of cooking equipment were not adequately beneath and covered by the mechanical exhaust ventilation hood. Food handler cards for all applicable employees and the food safety certificate could not be presented . The 2026 permit to operate was not posted.
Patterson Food Center, 200 N. Seconnd St. in Patterson, had four violations on Feb. 5 — two of them major. Raw meat was stored above prepared salsas in the walk-in refrigerator. Several salsas measured a temperature of 49 degrees. The paper towel dispensers in the bakery and deli areas were inoperative. The baffle blades of the mechanical exhaust ventilation hood were soiled with grease accumulation.
Smokey Mountain, 214 S. El Circulo Ave. in Patterson, had five violations on Feb. 5 — three of them major. Employees were using the bathroom sink to wash the soda machine nozzles. A soda machine and an ice machine were installed without prior approval from DER. The connection for the water purifier was within the basin of the mop sink. The facility lacked base coving along the area where the mop sink and unapproved ice machine are located. The water at the mop sink measured a maximum temperature of 118 degrees.
One new violation was observed during a reinspection on Feb. 10 and all violations were noted as corrected on Feb. 19.
New King Buffet, 1550 E. Hatch Road in Modesto, had nine violations on Feb. 5 — three of them major. An employee was seen scooping ice with a cup instead of an ice scoop and without washing hands. Multiple containers of food including bread, soy sauce and potatoes were uncovered. Multiple hot-held foods along the customer serving line were out of temperature, ranging from 88 to 95 degrees (must be 135 degrees minimum).
There was grime buildup on the back panel of the ice machine and on the soft-drink refrigeration unit. Multiple cutting boards were heavily soiled with many grooves. An employee was seen dumping waste directly into the floor sink. Carbon-dioxide cylinders were not secured to a structure. A light under the mechanical exhaust hood was not working.
Antojitos Mexicanos, 7154 McCracken Road, Suite B, in Westley, had four violations on Feb. 6. The lid of the chest freezer was separating, exposing the fiberglass insulation within. Grease had accumulated on the menu board above the cooking area. Grime had accumulated on the interior surface of the ice machine. One employee’s food handler card was expired.
Other food facilities with three or more, or major, violations at the time of their inspections were:
- Domino’s, 1620 Crows Landing Road, Suite J, Modesto
- El Jacalito Taqueria (major violation corrected at time of inspection)
- La Michoacana Plus
- Modesto Moose Lodge Bar
- Subway, 1665 Lander Ave., Turlock
- T&M Market
Minor violations
According to Stanislaus County, food facilities that had one or two violations, none of them major, are:
- Arco ampm, 1801 Lander Ave., Turlock
- Bernard Hughes Elementary School cafeteria
- CVS Pharmacy, 1621 Lander Ave., Turlock
- El Rancheros Mexican Food
- Jack in the Box, 1951 Lander Ave., Turlock
- La Estrellita
- Mountain Mike’s, 3601 Pelandale Ave., Suite D2, Modesto
- Palo Santo Compania Mexicana de Café
- Stanislaus County Department of Aging & Veteran Services
- Tacos El Viejon
No violations
These food facilities had no violations, according to the county:
- Arco ampm, 6345 Oakdale Road, Riverbank
- Cost Less Foods, 6331 Oakdale Road, Riverbank
- Dairy Queen, 2508 Oakdale Road, Modesto
- Dollar General, 965 Lander Ave., Turlock
- Mountain Mike’s/Baskin Robbins, 6333 Oakdale Road, Riverbank
- Panaderia La Esperanza
- Perko’s Café, 2120 Patterson Road, Riverbank
- Round Table, 3601 Pelandale Ave., Suite 101, Modesto
- Taqueria Los Compadres
- The Protein Spot
- 99 Cent Plus
Facility closed upon inspection
The following food facilities were not open at the time inspectors attempted an unannounced visit (this may happen when posted business hours are no longer accurate or a facility has not notified the department it is no longer in business):
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