Food for Thought: 66 violations between this week’s low performers

LUBBOCK, Texas (KCBD) – From school cafeterias to local bars, full-service restaurants and food trucks – if you can eat or drink there, they are on the list to be inspected by the Lubbock Health Department.

And this week some of those more “unconventional” spots are at the bottom of the Food for Thought list.

KCBD NewsChannel 11’s Christy Hartin breaks down the violations.

Two of the bars inside Rodeo 4 at 5402 4th Street are on the Low Performers’ list.

The Long Bar had 22 violations.

• Limes and lemons were not washed before they were cut.
• A sanitizer solution was at toxic levels.
• There were no test strips for the sanitizer solution.
• Employees did not wash their hands properly before preparing Jell-O shots.
• There was no soap or paper towels at the hand sink.
• The drain line was missing on the soda gun holster allowing waste water to drip into the ice bins.
• There was an accumulation of black residue on the ice shoot of the ice machine. This is a repeat violation.

(Core)

• Employee’s unlidded drink on counter behind bar.
• Scoops for ice machine, not in current use, stored on floor next to ice machine.
• Case of single-service and single-use cups stored directly on floor of dry storage.
• Ice scoop stored on soiled surface of ice machine.
• Handwashing sink not sealed to adjoining wall.
• Accumulation of dust and dirt on fan shrouds in walk in cooler.
• Reach in cooler, containing drinks and cut lemons, soiled with accumulation of sticky residue.
• Accumulation of residue and insect debris in storage cabinets.
• Shielding missing from fluorescent light bulbs in dry storage room.
• Accumulation of residue and debris on walls and floors of facility.
• Three wet mops, not in current use stored in mop bucket.
• No handwashing signage at handwashing sink.
• No coving at floor and wall junctures in dry storage room.
• Inspectors found 12 violations at the Wade Bowen Bar.
• An unidentified substance was in the ice bin.
• The soda gun was buried under ice in the ice bin.
• There were no test strips for the sanitizing solution. This is a repeat violation.
• There was no soap at the hand sink.
• There was no water available at a hand sink. This is a repeat violation from a year ago.
• Wood was not properly sealed.
• A drain line was open to the interior of the bar.

(Core)

• Accumulation of sticky residue on gasket and interior of reach in cooler.
• Nonfood-contact surfaces of equipment shall be kept free of an accumulation of dust, dirt, food residue, and other debris
• Observation: Pink slime substance in holster of soda gun.
• Accumulation of sticky residue on floors.
• No handwashing signage at handwashing sink.
• The inspector reports, based on risks inherent to the food operation the person in charge did not demonstrate knowledge of foodborne disease prevention.

According to the report, as a result of an inspection with repeat violations the facility was fined $175.

The report shows most of the violations were corrected at the time of the inspection.

Pedro’s Tamales at 6620 Milwaukee had 19 violations.

• A container of sour cream with a use-by-date of October 30th of last year had a bluish green growth inside.
• The person in charge handled money and then returned to food prep without washing their hands.
• A bleach solution was at toxic levels.
• A sanitizer solution was on top of a drink cooler.
• A spray bottle was not labeled.
• Plastic food container lids were cracked.
• The gasket on the walk-in cooler was torn.
• The drain lines for the soda machine and 3-compartment sink were not plumbed correctly.

The inspector notes, due to the number and the nature of the violations, food safety knowledge was not demonstrated.

(Core)

• Yellow wiping cleaning towels were stored on a prep table by the drive-thru and at steam table between uses.
• A single-service plastic spoon is being used to dispense guacamole at the front counter reach-in cooler.
• A long-handled metal spoon, used to stir drinks, is placed on a single-use aluminum foil sheet between uses in the reach-in cooler.
• The walk-in freezer floors were visibly soiled with dust and debris.
• The certified food manager certificate was not posted in a conspicuous location.
• The City of Lubbock Food Permit was not posted in a conspicuous location.
• The wall behind the soda machine, and next to the prep area hand sink has a hole that provides a pass through for the soda product pipes, and the condensation line, but the hole is not properly sealed and is exposing the unsealed sheetrock.

The report shows most violations were corrected at the time of the inspection.

Bone Daddy’s at 3008 W. Loop 289 had 14 violations.

• Raw chicken was stored above raw fish.
• There was black residue in the soda nozzles.
• The blade on the can opener was dirty.
• A spray pesticide was stored improperly.
• The thermometer in the cooler was not accurate.
• There were no paper towels at any of the hand sinks.
• An ice bucket was dirty and cracked.
• The waste pipes from ware wash are not plumbed correctly.

(Core)

• Sticky fly trap was hung from ceiling above 3 compartment sink area.
• Ceiling tile was missing above dishwasher, not precluding possible entry of pests and/or rodents.
• Boxes of bread were stored on the floor of the walk-in freezer.
• Container of raw fish was thawing in a container of standing water in basin of 3 compartment sink. Fish temperature was measured at 45°F. Employee stated that fish has been thawing less than 1 hour.
• 2 Pork shoulders were thawing in basin of 3 compartment sink. Pork shoulder temperature measured 40°F.
• Pump spray bottle, stored on a shelf above prep table across from 3 compartment sink, contained a black liquid without any identification.

The report shows most violations were corrected at the time of the inspection

Head Hunters Smoke Shop at 2146 19th had 11 violations.

• Ready-to-eat hot dogs were above the safe cold temperature of 41 degrees.
• Ready-to-eat chili was not at least 135 degrees.
• The ambient temperature of the reach-in cooler was 46 degrees. It must be able to keep food items 41 degrees or colder.
• There was an accumulation of brown residue in the soda nozzles.
• Lighters were stored above ready-to-eat foods.
• A sanitizing solution was at toxic levels, and there was no testing device available.
• An employee washed their hands in the 3-compartment sink.
• The drain line from the 3-compartment sink was leaking.

(Core)

• Ice transport container not stored in an inverted position between use.
• Single use article used as scoop in salt.
• Non food contact surface of ice deflector plate soiled with an accumulation of dirt.

The report shows most violations were corrected at the time of the inspection.

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