Food worker cards, temps plague restaurants in latest inspections

Problems with food worker cards, temperature control and hand washing were some of the top findings in this week’s roundup of restaurant inspections by the Benton-Franklin Health District’s food safety team.

The team regularly inspects more than 1,000 food retail establishments for food safety, sanitation and handling, rating them on a 418-point scale.

Those earning 25 or more “red” points on routine inspections and 10 or more on a re-inspection are slated for further follow up. Examples of the issues inspectors look for include the presence of valid food worker cards for all workers (5 points), proper hand washing (25 points) and proper cooling procedures and storing food at room temperature (25 points apiece).

Twenty-three local establishments are subject to follow-ups in this week’s report. Four received perfect stores, including three on re-inspection.

Past inspections reports are available at bfhd.wa.gov/food/index.php

Direct questions or concerns to the health district at 509-460-4205

Establishments requiring re-inspection

Al Basha Kabab, 3600 W. Clearwater Ave., Kennewick, July 20, routine (25 red, 3 blue)

Notes: Room temperature storage.

Boys & Girls Club, 801 N. 18th Ave., Pasco, July 20, routine (25 red, 0 blue)

Notes: Improper hand washing

Branding Iron, 213 W. Kennewick Ave., Kennewick, July 20, routine (75 red, 0 blue), July 21, follow-up (0 red, 0 blue)

Notes: Food worker cards not 100 percent, bare hand contact, raw animal products stored above ready-to-eat foods, improper cooling procedures, improper cold holding, no thermometer present. Follow-up: No violations noted.

Circle K, 4823 Broadmoor Blvd., Pasco, July 19, first follow-up to June 5 routine (15 red, 0 blue)

Notes: Food worker cards not 100 percent, no paper towels at hand sink.

El Rancho Alegre, 2731 Queensgate Drive, Richland, July 19, routine (55 red, 10 blue)

Notes: No soap at hand sink, food not in good condition, room temperature storage, improper cold holding.

El Rancho Alegre II, 364 Chardonnay Ave., Prosser, July 18, routine (25 red, 5 blue)

Notes: Food worker cards not 100 percent, improper cold holding, improper chemical use.

Fiesta Mexican #5, 8524 W. Gage Blvd., Kennewick, July 21, routine (50 red, 0 blue)

Notes: Food worker cards not 100 percent, no paper towels at hand sink, improper cooling procedures, improper cold holding.

Fred Meyer, 101 Wellsian Way, Richland, July 19, first follow-up to June 21 routine, Deli (35 red, 0 blue), Produce (10 red, 0 blue)

Notes: (Deli) No paper towels at hand sink, improper hot holding, (Produce), No hot water at hand sink.

Hacienda Del Sol, 5024 N. Road 68, Pasco, July 20, first follow-up to March 7 routine (20 red, 5 blue)

Notes: No soap at hand sink, improper cold holding.

Hampton Inn, 486 Bradley Blvd., Richland, July 18, first follow-up to June 23 routine (25 red, 0 blue)

Notes: Room temperature storage.

Jack in the Box, 2722 W. 10th Ave., Kennewick, July 20, routine (35 red, 0 blue)

Notes: Food worker cards not 100 percent, raw animal products stored above ready-to-eat foods, room temperature storage.

Jake’s Café Restaurant, 528 Ely St., Kennewick, July 20, routine (30 red, 0 blue)

Notes: Room temperature storage, menu board lacks consumer advisory.

Jo’Merola’s Pizzeria, 1321 N. Columbia Center Blvd., Kennewick, July 18, routine (30 red, 0 blue)

Notes: Food worker cards not 100 percent, bare hand contact.

Lil Roasters Coffee Bar, 496 George Washington Way, Richland, July 18, routine (25 red, 0 blue)

Notes: Food worker cards not 100 percent, hand sink blocked, improper use of hand sink, improper cold holding.

Lotus Café & Market, 1325 George Washington Way, Richland, July 18, routine (45 red, 14 blue)

Notes: No paper towels at hand sink, room temperature storage, improper cold holding.

McDonald’s, 2721 W. Kennewick Ave., July 20, routine (30 red, 0 blue)

Notes: Food worker cards not 100 percent, room temperature storage.

Parkade Bar & Grill, 207 W. Kennewick Ave., July 20, routine (35 red, 5 blue)

Notes: Food worker cards not 100 percent, improper hand washing, raw animal products stored above ready-to-eat foods.

Ruby Thai Kitchen, 1321 N. Columbia Center Blvd., Kennewick, July 18, routine (80 red, 0 blue), July 19, first follow-up to July 18 routine (25 red, 5 blue)

Notes: Person in charge, food worker cards not 100 percent, raw meat contact surfaces improperly sanitized, improper shell egg handling practices, improper cooling procedures, room temperature storage, improper use of time as a control. Follow-up: Improper use of time as a control.

Sterling’s, 2500 Queensgate, Richland, July 7, routine (40 red, 7 blue)

Notes: Food worker cards not 100 percent, room temperature storage, improper cold holding.

Tacos y Mariscos El Tequila, 109 W. Kennewick Ave., July 17, routine (25 red, 3 blue)

Notes: Improper produce washing, raw animal products stored above ready-to-eat foods, improper cold holding, consumer advisory not complete.

Teriyaki Grill, 5325 Road 68, Pasco, July 20, routine (35 red, 2 blue)

Notes: Food worker cards not 100 percent, improper cooling procedures, digital thermometer not functioning properly.

Tres Pueblos Carniceria (Deli), 2203 W. Fourth Ave., Kennewick, July 13, routine (80 red, 0 blue), July 20, first follow-up to July 13 routine (0 red, 0 blue)

Notes: Person in charge not controlling food safety risks, food worker cards not 100 percent, no hot water at hand sink, improper produce washing, improper cooling procedures, improper cooking temperatures. Follow-up: No violations noted.

Tres Pueblos Carniceria (Meat), 2203 W. Fourth Ave., Kennewick, July 13, routine (55 red, 8 blue)

Notes: Person in charge unable to answer food safety questions, food worker cards not 100 percent, raw meat contact surfaces improperly sanitized, scented bleach for sanitizer, unapproved procedures, variance not obtained for specialized process procedure.

Establishments not requiring re-inspection

Al Basha Market, 3509 W. Clearwater Ave., Kennewick, July 20, routine (5 red, 0 blue)

Boys & Girls Club, 333 W. Court St., Pasco, routine, July 20, (10 red, 0 blue)

Carl’s Jr., 700 Wine Country Road, Prosser, July 18, routine (5 red, 8 blue)

Circle K, 104 S. Washington, Kennewick, July 21, routine, Restaurant (15 red, 0 blue), Store (5 red, 0 blue)

Farmboy LLC (Demo), Kennewick Farmers Market, July 20, routine (10 red, 0 blue)

Fat Olives, 255 Williams Blvd., Richland, July 18, first follow-up to July 6 routine (0 red, 0 blue)

Fresh Out of the Box (Cart), Fairgrounds, Kennewick, July 13, routine (10 red, 2 blue)

Graze-A Place to Eat, 8530 W. Gage Blvd., Kennewick, July 21, routine (5 red, 0 blue)

Holiday Inn Express, 4525 Convention Place, Pasco, July 21, routine (5 red, 0 blue)

Lao Kitchen, 1375 George Washington Way, Richland, July 18, routine (0 red, 5 blue)

Love’s Truck Stop, 700 Wine Country Road, Prosser, July 18, routine (5 red, 0 blue)

Paper Street Brewing Co., 701 The Parkway, Richland, July 17, routine (0 red, 2 blue)

Porter’s Real Barbecue, 705 The Parkway, Richland, July 17, routine (10 red, 0 blue)

S & S Petroleum, 1440 N. 20th Ave., Pasco, July 20, routine (20 red, 3 blue)

Some Bagels, 810 S. Washington, Kennewick, July 21, routine (10 red, 0 blue)

Tina’s Tasty Treats, Kennewick Farmers Market, July 20, routine (0 red, 0 blue)

The Dugout, 7111 Burden Blvd., Pasco, July 20 (5 red, 0 blue)

Tres Pueblos Carniceria (Store), 2203 W. Fourth Ave., Kennewick, July 13, routine (15 red, 5 blue)

This story was originally published August 6, 2017 at 1:29 PM with the headline "Food worker cards, temps plague restaurants in latest inspections."