Leisure World of Maryland restaurants: Caveat Emptor

Just one report of rodent excrement, filthy food prep areas, food handlers not washing their hands, is more than sufficient cause for concern re: a food service facility serving elderly people. However, 2013 - 2016 Leisure World restaurant food facilities/Montgomery County Health Department inspection reports (enclosed) display a pattern and practice of inspectors finding mice droppings, ("several mice droppings observed on prep tables, in cleaned glasses, on prep coolers with possible food contamination, "excessive mice droppings observed all over kitchen area, food utensils (including glasses, pans, etc) contaminated by mice droppings") "potentially hazardous food being held/stored at temperatures" above required by County code, "severely scratched cutting boards in use in kitchen", "food utensils observed stored in the hand sink", "surfaces of equipments and some carts are dirty", mold in the ice machine, and food preparers unclean hands.

The Montgomery County Department of Health and Human Services, Licensure and Regulatory Services, Food Service Facility Inspection Reports reveal "The facility was closed in 2013 and again in 2016 for sanitation issues".

The last 2 years of Montgomery County Department of Health and Human Service Food inspection reports for Leisure World of Maryland food service facilities reveal two (2) reported cases of food poisoning/food borne illness.* It is quite possible that others have experienced effects, but thought they had the flu but were really experiencing illness due to food eaten at the Leisure World restaurants.

The September 13, 2016 inspection report shows: "Visit to facility regarding complaint for person becoming ill after eating chicken wings, sauce and coleslaw-". In a telephone interview, the Leisure World resident has identified that she became so violently ill that a neighbor had to transport her to Montgomery General Hospital ER. She was admitted overnight for treatment. When Lab tests revealed the food borne bacteria found, as required by law, the hospital reported the findings to the the Montgomery County Health Department.

The March 30, 2015 Health Department inspection report shows: "Complaint received from a customer who alleges to have gotten sick after eating scrambled eggs, sausage bacon and stewed apple during morning breakfast from the facility in the week of March 25." The inspector wrote: "tuna salad, chicken salad and potato salads observed held at 56 degrees F in salad cooler" (cold holding temperature required to be 41 degrees F or less), and "malfunctioning prep cooler is in use to hold potentially hazardous foods."

Leisure World of Maryland food service contractor Perrie LLC is owned and operated by:

Ed Richardson, Owner - Certified Food Service Manager certification expired 11/11/16

Spiro Macheras, Owner - Certified Food Service Manager certification expired 11/11/16

Bob Barton, Manager, - Certified Food Service Manager certification expired 06/23/14

**(CFSM) - Montgomery County Code 15-8(b)(2) states a licensee must not operate a food service facility unless the facility is under the immediate control of a Certified Food Service Manager.

On 12/23/16 Montgomery County Health Department Licensure and Regulatory Services reports that all 3 have failed to receive current **Certified Food Service Manager certifications, noting, "it is a county violation. The penalty is a $500.00 citation and the county will seek an abatement order. Both will be up to a District court judge to determine if this is appropriate for the circumstances. Typically the judge will look to see if we have given them an opportunity to correct the deficiency. At this point we will give them an opportunity to take corrective action."

As the inspection reports show, this facility has been given more than a reasonable amount of time to "clean up their act". It is quite obvious that once caught - they do what should be done on a legally required consistent daily - then immediately revert back into their pattern and practice of unsanitary conditions.

As witnessed by food service employees and resident patrons, the Leisure World General Manager, who is not a qualified food handler,"frequently goes into the kitchen - helps himself to food - makes himself sandwiches, etc.".

The responsibility for allowing this egregious mismanagement is that of the Leisure World General Manager. He is ultimately responsible for contractor compliance with all Federal, State and County laws, permits, certifications, sanitation laws, codes and regulations.

The unsanitary conditions of the Leisure World food preparation areas inspected by the Health Department included the General Manager's self serving food preparation as well as:

B. "filthy back in the kitchen"

C. "kitchen staff's clothing is "dirty" from kitchen grease - they don't wash their hands in between preparing meals"

D. "food is dropped on the floor - then picked up and placed on plates for service"

E. "mice have been seen when staff arrives in the morning to serve patrons breakfast, on the shelf where the bread is placed"

F. "waitresses have been seen going into the hallway (public) rest room, leaving without washing their hands"

Complete with their misspellings, the following are HHS LICENSURE REGULATORY SERVICES Inspectors: OBSERVATIONS AND CORRECTIVE ACTIONS from each FOOD SERVICE FACILITY INSPECTION REPORT

Montgomery County Department of Health and Human Services

Licensure and Regulatory Services

255 Rockville Pike, Suite 100; Rockville, Maryland 20850

240-777-3986

(Health Dept. ordered closure):

12-19-16:LEISURE WORLD FOOD SERVICE/ Cascade Room: (Mice/mold/no CFSM ** )

Montgomery County Health Department received complaint from a customer alleging that mice observed in the facility, employees not washing hands and unauthorized personnel access to the kitchen.

The manager is aware of the mice problem, but not the other allegations.

Several mice droppings observed on storage shelves, prep table and utensil storage bins in the kitchen area.

Mice activities observed in the kitchen, storage and prep area of the facility.

Holes observed in the storage room, on ceiling near pipe penetrations.

Single service cups observed contaminated by mice droppings.

The facility must cease operation until:

1. All contaminated surfaces are cleaned and sanitized.

2. The facility is serviced by professional pest control agent.

3. All holes, hiding and harborage sites are sealed, caulked and repaired.

4. A written Plan of corrections and monitoring is provided indicating how to bring the mice infestation under control.

The dish machine sanitizing temperature is below the minimum required one. Currently 17'F.

No sanitizing test paper (kit) provided.

No soap or paper towels available at hand sink near dish washing machine. Provide

No sanitizing solution on site. Provide immediately. All surfaces must be sanitized prior to re-inspection.

**No Montgomery County Certified Food Manager present. Obtain a Montgomery County certified food manager card within 5 business days.

There is mold grown on interior surface of ice making amchine. (sp)

Old food and dirt debris on surfaces of carts, shelves and equipments.

Received by Bobby Barton

Inspected by: Dossa, Mitiku 240-777-3899

(Health Dept. ordered closure):

12/19/16: LEISURE WORLD/Stein Room#1: (Mice)

Mice droppings observed on the floor in the kitchen area.

Leak observed dripping right in the food prep area, near the cook line and prep cooler.

Employee didn't wash in between handling raw meat and read to serve food.

Preparing food in the this kitchen must be ceased until the leak is eliminated to prevent immanent food contamination.

The facility should cease operation until the source of the leak is eliminated and all surfaces in the kitchen area are cleaned and sanitized after repair.

Employee observed handling raw burger, and with the same glove picked a hamburger bun without washing hands or changing gloves.

No soap and paper towel provided at the hand sink in the kitchen area.

The prep cooler's door is broken.

Leak observed from the drain pipe of the middle sink of the 3-compatment (sp) at the bar

One of the light under the hood is out.

Soap observed stored on the shelf above cleaned glasses.

Note that both facilities are closed until the critical items are corrected.

Call 301 674 8344 for re-inspection.

Note: a re-inspection fee of $100 must be paid to the health department for each facility.

Received by Bobby Barton

Inspected by: Dossa, Mitiku 240-777-3899

9/13/16: LEISURE WORLD/Stein Room #1 - (reported food poisoning/food borne illness)*

Several potentially hazardous food products cold holding in prep cooler at 54 degree F or greater; sliced turkey breast, roast beef; tomatoes , shrimp salad.

Soap is not available at hand sink in kitchen.

Air temperature reads at 65 degree F for 2-door prep cooler in ccokline (sp) area. Repair immediately.

*Visit to facility regarding complaint for person becoming ill after eating chicken wings, sauce and coleslaw revealed manager, Edward Richardson, on duty who was unaware of complaint. Manager noted that no other complaint received during this time.

Received by Edward U. Richardson

Inspected by: McCoy, Sandra 240-777-3844

7/21/16: LEISURE WORLD/Stein Room#1

Sliced ham and sliced turkey @ 48F cold holding in undercounter prep cooler

Chicken and sauce hot holding on steam table @ 92F; reheated to 165F

Egg salad @ 48F/colokline (sp) undercounter prep cooler; relocated to reachin (sp) cooler

No sneeze guard between handsink and 3-compartment sink

steel cleaning pad for cleaning pot & pan stored in handsink.

Paper towels and soap are not provided at handsink in bar.

Received by Edward U. Richardson

Inspected by: McCoy, Sandra 240-777-3844

7/21/16: LEISURE WORLD/Cascade Room:

No thermometers in refrigeration unit.

Flies observed in food storage room.

1-door reachin cooler is leaking in ceiling.

Unshielded light bulbs in dry storage room.

Scoops without handles in bulk storage bins.

Trash observed on ground area outside of building.

Trash dumpsters are not closed outside of building.

Unsanitary conditions in both men and women's restrooms.

Uncovered trash container in women's restroom.

Note: perriecateringllc@gmail.com

Received by Edward U. Richardson

Inspected by: McCoy, Sandra 240-777-3844

2/10/16: LEISURE WORLD FOOD SERVICE/Cascade Room:

Potentially hazardous food observes at 58. F (BBQ Chicken on prep table), and Tuna salad at 44.8 in the top part of the pre cooler.

The carts shelves and surfaces under prep tables are soiled with old debris.

Interior of ice making machine is dirty.

Food debris observed under and behind equipments in the kitchen areas.

Received by Spiro Macheras

Inspected by: Dossa, Mitiku 240-777-3899

10/7/15: LEISURE WORLD/Stein Room #1: (Mice)

Potentially hazardous foods observed being held at 44 degrees F and above in the prep cooler.

Malfunctioning prep cooler is in use to hold potentially hazardous food.

Cooked beans observed being held at 102 degrees F in a double pan on steam table (codes requires 135 degrees F or above during storage, display, or transport.

An employee observed handling ready to serve sandwich items with bare hands without using gloves.

Employees handling open food and preparing food are not wearing hairnet.

Mice dropping observed on the floor under shelves in the back kitchen area.

Received by Edward U. Richardson, perriecateringllc@gmail.com

Inspected by: Dossa, Mitiku 240-777-3899

10/7/15: LEISURE WORLD FOOD SERVICE/Cascade Room:

Severely stained cutting board in use.

No soap provided at the serving station hand sink.

Flour mixing machine is soiled with old food debris.

carts and some shelves are soiled with debris.

Door handles of some coolers are soiled with debris.

Received by Edward U. Richardson

Inspected by: Dossa, Mitiku 240-777-3899

3/30/15: LEISURE WORLD/Stein Room #1: *(reported food poisoning/food borne illness)*

"Complaint received from a customer who alleges to have gotten sick after eating scrambled egss, sausage bacon and stewed apple during morning breakfast from the facility in the week of March 25."

The manager on duty is not aware of the complaint.

According to the manager no employee called out sick in the last 4 weeks.

Tuna salad, chicken salad and potato salads observed held at 56 degrees F in salad cooler" (cold holding temperature (required to be 41 degrees F or less)

Malfunctioning prep cooler is in use to hold potentially hazardous foods."

Foods from the breakfast observed cold held in the reach-in cooler at 39 degrees F.

Received by Edward U. Richardson

Inspected by: Dossa, Mitiku 240-777-3899

3/3/15: LEISURE WORLD FOOD SERVICE/Cascade Room:

Dirty wiping cloths observed on prep table

Unlabeled oil item observed near the hand sink

Old food debris observed on food mixing machine

The floor in the storage room is dirty

***HACCP plan is not readily accessible by employees

Received by Edward U. Richardson

Inspected by: Dossa, Mitiku 240-777-3899

2/10/15: LEISURE WORLD/Stein Room #1-

Only the bar are is open.

The kitchen is closed until the remodeling work is done in the room next to the kitchen.

Received by Spiro Macheras

Inspected by: Dossa, Mitiku 240-777-3899

12/23/14: LEISURE WORLD/ Stein Room #1: (No CFSM)**

Potentially hazardous food observed stored in malfunctioning cooler at 46 degrees F and above

Malfunctioning cooler in used to hold potentially hazardous foods. Discontinue to use the unit until you repair it and maintains below 41 degrees F.

Severely scratched cutting boards in use in the kitchen.

Food utensils observed stored in the hand sink.

Surfaces of equipments and some carts are dirty.

The facility manager is not under a Montgomery County CFSM. The manager has agreed to obtain a Montgomery County CFSM card within 10 days.

Received by Spiro Macheras, spiro163@cs.com

Inspected by: Dossa, Mitiku 240-777-3899

12/23/14: LEISURE WORLD FOOD SERVICE/Cascade Room: (No CFSM)**

Several food contact surfaces of utensils and flour mixing machines are soiled with old food debris.

Shelves and equipments in the storage and prep areas are dirty.

The under table shelves are dirty and rusty.

The floors under and behind shelves in the storage and prep areas are dirty.

The hand sink in the dish washing room is malfunctioned.

The facility manager is not under a Montgomery County CFSM.**

The manager has certification and has agreed to obtain a Montgomery County CFSM within 10 days.

Received by Spiro Macheras, spiro163@cs.com

Inspected by: Dossa, Mitiku 240-777-3899

4/17/14: LEISURE WORLD FOOD SERVICE/Cascade Room: (No CFSM)**

Shelves where utensils stored are dirty with soil and food debris

Coolers doors are soiled with food debris

The floors under and behind equipments need cleaning

HACCP plan is not provided

No Montgomery County Certified food service manager in the facility.**

The facility must be under direct supervision of a Montgomery County CFSM during all hours of operation.

Received by Spiro Macheras

Inspected by: Dossa, Mitiku 240-777-3899

(Health Department ordered closure)

1/15/13: LEISURE WORLD/Stein Room#1

Several mice droppings observed on prep tables, in cleaned glasses, on prep coolers with possible food contamination.

Excessive mice droppings observed all over kitchen area.

The facility was closed for about an hour until all contaminated food contact surfaces in the kitchen area were cleaned and sanitized.

Provide professional pest control service as soon as possible and submit the evidence. Compliance will be monitored.

Missing, and damaged tiles in the storage rooms, open gaps near penetrations to the ceilings where mice may get access, harbor or hide.

Open gaps at floor wall junction area under the bar, potential vermin/mice hiding sites.

Food utensils (including glasses, pans etc) contaminated by mice droppings.

Walk-in cooler is maintaining above 48 degrees F. Potentially hazardous foods observed at 48 degrees F and above.

As excessive mice activities observes in the kitchen area, this facility must draw effective plan of correction that can be worked over next days and weeks. Submit plan of correction to the health department, follow-up inspection will be conducted to determine the compliance.

Received by Edward U. Richardson, perriecatering@yahoo.com

Inspected by: Dossa, Mitiku 240-777-3899

***HACCP (Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point Plan)

Code of Maryland Regulation 10.15.03

The frequency of food service facility inspections is based on the food-borne illness risk assessment of the food being prepared at the facility.