Restaurant inspection: Gum-chewing food prep employee among violations found

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The state Department of Agriculture conducts annual inspections of food-serving businesses to ensure public safety and safe food-handling practices. Schools are inspected twice per year, according to the Bureau of Food Safety and Laboratories.

Whether an establishment is considered compliant or non-compliant is the discretion of the inspector.   

There are, however, several violations for which inspectors should automatically consider establishments non-compliant. Called “critical violations,” they include food temperature issues, employee hygiene and issues with chemicals and how they’re handled. 

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Depending on the severity of the situation, inspectors and their supervisors could file citations or close an establishment.   

Inspection Violations: 3/7/2025 

PAPA JOHN’S PIZZA #1657 – 3000 E. MARKET ST. – YORK 

• Food employee observed chewing gum while engaged in food preparation in the pizza area. 
• Can opener cutting blade, a food contact surface, was observed to have food residue and was not clean to sight and touch. 
• The Person in Charge did not demonstrate adequate knowledge of food safety in this food facility as evidenced by this non-compliant inspection. 
• Employee’s beverage container was stored on a shelf with and above foods intended for use or sale in the food facility. 
• Commercially processed refrigerated, ready to eat, time/temperature control for safety food, located in the walk-in cooler, and held more than 24 hours, is being improperly date marked – label on Italian Sausage states received on 3-11 and use by 3-4. 
• Time in lieu of temperature being used in the food facility to control ready to eat potentially hazardous foods (pizza sauce) without written procedures or documentation to verify disposition of food. 
• Cove base directly to the right of the walk in cooler entrance is damaged, deteriorating and in need of repair. 
• A working container of Orange Pro cleaner was stored above or on the same shelf with food, equipment, and/or single service articles in the register area. 

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