Stanislaus County health inspectors find dead pests and employees not washing hands
Stanislaus County health inspectors observed dead pests in a Modesto bar and employees not washing their hands at a popular coffee spot during inspections in early April.
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 59 restaurant inspection reports sent to The Modesto Bee on Wednesday, 16 were not updated on the site as of Thursday morning.
Dead pests and improper handwashing among major violations
Violations were found during routine inspections of the following Stanislaus County food facilities during the week of April 6-19. 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.
Empire Gas and Food, 5018 Yosemite Blvd. in Empire, had five violations on April 6. Two mop buckets were filled with standing waste water. A floor area had syrup accumulation. The bathroom soap dispenser was empty. CO2 canisters were not secure.
Dutch Bros, 1524 McHenry Ave. in Modesto, had four violations on April 7 — two of them major. An employee did not wash their hands after eating food on their break. A paper towel dispenser was broken. The facility lacked food handler cards and an expired health permit was posted on the wall.
Phoenix Noodle House, 1222 H St. in Modesto, had five violations on April 8 — two of them major. Employees were observed using the food preparation sink to wash their hands. Sauces were stored in a refrigerator that had a data plate stating packaged and bottled drinks only are to be stored in it. Sacks of food were stored directly on the ground. The floor under storage racks was heavily soiled. The hot water at the three-compartment sink was at 116 degrees (must be a minimum of 120 degrees).
Patterson Discount Cigarettes, 106 E. Las Palmas Ave., Suite C, in Patterson, had four violations on April 9. The shelving within the walk-in refrigerators and ice cream freezer were soiled with black/green accumulation. Sodas and beverages were stored directly next to the mop sink. The condenser fans in the walk-in refrigerators were soiled with dust. The 2026 permit to operate was not posted.
Morelia’s, 106 E. Las Palmas Ave., Suite A, in Patterson, had nine violations on April 9 — five of them major. Raw beef was stored above ready-to-eat food (corn, salsas, etc.) in the refrigerators and freezer. Staff mixed soap and chlorine solutions together to conduct ware-washing, and did not provide a sanitizer rinse. Raw beef in a refrigerator measured an internal food temperature of 46 degrees (must be a minimum of 41 degrees). The ambient air temperature of the refrigerator measured greater than 45 degrees. Prepared pork and beef in a refrigerator measured an internal food temperature of 42 degrees. The refrigerator measured an ambient air temperature of 44 degrees.
The chlorine sanitizer solution in the bucket measured a concentration of greater than 200ppm. The baffles blades on the mechanical exhaust hood ventilation were coated in grease. Food handler cards and the food safety certificate were not available and the health permit was not posted.
Aguililla Mexican Food, 4525 Broadway Ave., Suite C, in Salida, had five violations on April 14. The hot water dispenser at the three-compartment sink had uneven pressure. Water came and went in bursts whenever the hot water spigot was turned on. Grime was accumulated on the interior surface of the ice machine bin. The handwashing station at the bar lacked paper towels. The storage room lacked adequate lighting. The facility did not have a current food safety certificate.
One violation remained and one new violation was observed during a reinspection on April 30.
Huckleberry’s, 151 N. Walnut Ave. in Turlock, had four violations on April 14. Cutting boards were being dried on the faucet handles of the three-compartment sink, rendering it inoperable. This could be an area where cross contamination of the cutting boards can occur. Multiple contact surfaces were encrusted with grease and debris. A food safety certification could not be provided and a current health permit was not posted for public viewing.
Nick the Greek, 3900 Pelandale Ave., Suite 430, in Modesto, had three violations on April 16. In the refrigerated drawers beneath the cook top, falafel had an internal temperature of 49 and 51 degrees (must be a minimum of 41 degrees). Also in these drawers, the internal temperature of different meats was 42 and 43 degrees. In the prep fridge, the internal temperature of hummus and tomatoes in containers was 43 and 42 degrees.
One violation remained during a reinspection on April 29.
Tiki Lounge, 932 McHenry Ave. in Modesto, had four violations on April 16. Several dead pests were on the floor in a storage area. A coffee machine was not approved by DER. Food handler cards and the food safety certificate were not available.
Other food facilities with three or more, or major, violations at the time of their inspections were:
- El Rosal, 503 N. Golden State Blvd., Turlock (major violation corrected at time of inspection)
- Fast And Easy Mart #101
- Impact Nutrition
- La Perla Tapatia (major violation corrected at time of inspection)
- Mariscos La Ceiba (all violations corrected at time of inspection)
- Sonic Drive-In, 1420 McHenry Ave., Modesto (major violation corrected at time of inspection)
Minor violations
According to Stanislaus County, food facilities that had one or two violations, none of them major, were:
- Carl’s Jr., 4125 Sisk Road, Modesto
- Century Chevron Food Mart, 100 E. Glenwood Ave., Turlock
- Jack in the Box, 1800 McHenry Ave., Modesto
- La Santaneca Pupuseria
- Panda Express, 199 W. Canal Dr., Turlock
- Pizza Hut/Wing Street, 920 Lander Ave., Turlock
- Santo Cielo
- Starbucks, 4601 Broadway Ave., Salida
- Subway, 557 Golden State Boulevard, Turlock
- Wendy’s, 1510 E. Ft St., Oakdale
- 7 Star Liquor
No violations
These food facilities had no violations, according to the county:
- Amigo Market
- Bamboo House Restaurant
- California Burrito
- Carls’ Jr., 100 N. Walnut Road, Turlock
- Central Valley High School snack bar
- CVS Pharmacy, 1520 E. F St., Oakdale
- D’s Liquors
- Dutch Bros, 901 N. Carpenter Road, Modesto
- Hughson Elementary School Café
- Lander Mart
- Liquor Club
- Modesto Days Inn
- Sno-White Drive-In, 420 N. Yosemite Ave., Modesto
- Starbucks, 2201 W. Main St., Turlock
- Starbucks, 1611 Lander Ave., Turlock
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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