Complaint About Mice Prompts Inspection Of Silver Spring Restaurant

SILVER SPRING, MD — Although a complaint about seeing mice prompted Montgomery County Department of Health and Human Services officials to inspect a Silver Spring restaurant, the inspector found no evidence of a rodent infestation. However, the inspection did reveal one critical violation involving the restaurant's walk-in refrigerator.

All Montgomery County licensed retail food establishments are inspected by the Licensure & Regulatory Services Program. Regular comprehensive inspections include evaluating an establishment's sanitation, maintenance and food service operations. These inspections include monitoring critical temperatures and food handling procedures.

From Aug. 28 to Sept. 3, inspectors identified one Silver Spring business with critical violations of food safety requirements.

"A Critical Violation means a food safety requirement that requires immediate correction," according to the health and human services website. "Failure for immediate correction results in cessation of some or all food operations or closure of the facility until violation is able to be corrected."

During an Aug. 28, inspection, Miss Toya's Creole House, which is located at 923 Ellsworth Drive in Silver Spring, had one critical violation regarding its walk-in refrigerator, according to the MCDHHS inspection report.

In order to prevent food from spoiling or becoming contaminated, Montgomery County regulations require restaurants to store food at 41 degrees F. or below. The inspector noted that the temperature of restaurant's walk-in refrigerator was above 41 degrees.

Critical violations must be addressed immediately or resolved within 24 hours. The inspector reported seeing restaurant staff move food from the walk-in to its Avantco refrigerator and prep table refrigerator to maintain 41 degrees F. or below and remedy the situation.

Although the Aug. 28 inspection at Miss Toya's Creole House was prompted by a complaint by someone who reported seeing mice at the restaurant, no evidence of rodent activity was observed, according to the report.

However, the inspector noted a number of violations that, while not critical, still needed to be addressed in order to avoid a vermin infestation:

• "Hole is observed in the wall under a preparation table at the cook line. Seal/caulk all holes in the walls in this facility. Avoid vermin.
• "Standing water is observed on the floor at the three part sink area in the kitchen. Eliminate the standing water. Avoid vermin.
• "Leaking plumbing is observed at the three part sink area and the dish washing area. Repair the leaking plumbing. Eliminate standing water. Avoid roaches and mice."

Other observations and corrective measures noted by the inspector included:

• "No paper towel is observed at the hand washing station at the bar. Provide soap and paper towel at all hand washing stations.
• "The handle of the soda dispenser is observed stored on the ice. Protect the ice from contamination. Store the dispenser handle in an approved manner.
• "Food utensils are observed stored in the hand washing sink at the food preparation area. Store the food utensils in an approved manner. Wash, rinse, and sanitize food utensils in the three part sink.
• "Glass is observed being used as a scoop in the ice bin at the bar. Use an approved scoop. Store scoop with the handle above the food.
• "No thermometer is observed in the prep. refrigerator at the cook line. Provide a thermometer in all refrigerators and freezers.
• "Standing water is observed at the floor wall junction at the entrance to the dry storage room. Eliminate the standing water. Repair all leaking plumbing.
• Utensils are observed stored on the floor under the preparatory table at the cook line. Store food utensils in an approved manner."