Ashburn Health Inspections: Unclean Kitchen, Food In Grocery Bag

ASHBURN, VA — Several facilities in the Ashburn area recorded violations during health department inspections between July 5 and July 11.

COVID-19 restrictions around the state have relaxed, so health inspectors conduct most restaurant inspections in person. However, some visits, such as those for training purposes, can be conducted virtually.

Violations at restaurants typically focus on factors that can contribute to food contamination. The local health department can also perform a re-inspection to ensure that possible violations have been corrected.

For every observed violation, the inspector provides a specific corrective action that can be completed to rectify the violation. Sometimes these are simple, and violations can be corrected during the course of the inspection.

Here are the most recent restaurant inspections in the Ashburn area, according to the Loudoun County Health Department.

• Feng's Hunan Cafe, 43300 Southern Walk Plaza #114 Ashburn, VA 20148
  • Date inspected: July 6
  • Total violations: 2
    • Observed raw eggs stored over ready to eat food in cooler. Prevent potential cross contamination by not storing raw animal foods over ready to eat foods.
    • Kitchen floor is in need of a cleaning.
• Baro Baro, 30 Pidgeon Hill Dr Potomac Falls, VA 20165
  • Date inspected: July 6
  • Total violations: 1
    • The gimbab machine that is used to roll rice rolls is observed dirty with food debris. This is a repeat violation. The machine is not easily cleanable. There are many corners and crevices in the machine that collect food debris and then become an attractant to flies. The spec sheets do not go into detail on how to clean and sanitize the food contact surfaces of the machine. The instructions say to only use warm or cold water to wipe it down. This machine was not approved in the plan review process for this facility. The spec sheets were not submitted to the Health Department for review during the plan review process
• Sushi Haru, 30 Pidgeon Hill Dr Potomac Falls, VA 20165
  • Date inspected: July 6
  • Total violations: 1
    • The menu has been updated with the reminder statement however the menu items that are served undercooked or raw (raw salmon and tuna) are not marked with an asterisk disclosure.
• China Garden, 45999 Regal Plaza #150 Sterling, VA 20165
  • Date inspected: July 7
  • Total violations: 6
    • A bowl with obvious food debris was found stored. Food contact surfaces shall be clean to sight and touch. PIC removed the bowl to the three basin sink to be rewashed.
    • A container of cooked chicken, a tray of rangoons, and 2 opened bags of dumplings did not have date markings on them. When ready to eat (RTE) foods that are time/temperature control for safety (TCS) are kept longer than 24 hours, a date marking when the food item was prepared/opened, or a date marking no more than 7 days from the date that the food item was prepared/opened shall be labeled on the food item or its container. Date mark all RTE/TCS foods.
    • A tray of raw, frozen chicken breasts was observed thawing at room temperature. When thawing TCS foods, they shall be thawed under refrigeration (41F or less) or under cold (under 70F) continuously running water. Person in charge (PIC) moved the chicken to the walk-in cooler to continue thawing.
    • Containers of salt, sugar and MSG observed on the line without any identifying information. When foods/ingredients are taken out of their original packaging and are not unmistakably identifiable, the common name of the food/ingredient must be labeled on the working container. Label salt, sugar and MSG containers on the line.
    • Food packages were observed stored directly on the floor of the freezer. Foods shall be protected from contamination by storing all foods at least 6" off the floor. Move all foods to shelving within the freezer that are at least 6" off the floor.
    • The general cleanliness of the facility needs improvement. Floors, walls and all surfaces of equipment have moderate to severe accumulation of dirt and debris. The physical facility shall be cleaned at a frequency to keep them clean. Clean the facility.
• Starbucks Coffee Company, 44050 Pipeline Plaza Ashburn, VA 20147
  • Date inspected: July 7
  • Total violations: 2
    • Tall reach in cooler in the kitchen door gaskets are torn. All kitchen equipment should be in good repair.
    • An irreversible registering temperature indicator was not provided for the hot water mechanical warewashing operation.
• Urbano Modern Italian, 21430 Epicerie Plaza Sterling, VA 20164
  • Date inspected: July 7
  • Total violations: 2
    • There is no available Chlorine sanitizer in dish machine. Sanitizer is reading 0 parts per million. Maintain 50-100 parts per million in a dish machine using Chlorine sanitizer for proper sanitization.
    • Observed time/temperature control for safety foods (TCS) not properly dated for disposition. Foods not labeled include: X. Ready to eat TCS foods held over 24 hours must be date marked with either made on date or date the food item must be consumed not to exceed 7 days.
• Caritas Academy, 83 Sugarland Run Drive Sterling, VA 20164
  • Date inspected: July 10
  • Total violations: 3
    • No soap was available at the hand washing sink within the kitchen. All hand sinks utilized by employees must be provided with a suitable cleanser at all times. Person in charge (PIC) supplied hand soap.
    • A bag of watermelon that had been cut on Friday (7/7) did not have a date mark on it. When keeping time/temperature control for safety foods longer than 24 hours, the date that the food was prepared (cut), or a discard date not to exceed 7 days from the date that the food was prepared must be labeled on the food item or its container. PIC voluntarily discarded the cut watermelon.
    • EHS observed cut watermelon stored in a plastic grocery bag. Plastic grocery bags are not able to be sanitized and therefore are not a suitable food contact surface. Food shall be protected from sources of contamination. Discontinue using plastic grocery bags for food storage. PIC voluntarily discarded the watermelon and plastic bag.
• Home Plate, 20051 Riverside Commons Plaza, #100 Ashburn, VA 20147
  • Date inspected: July 11
  • Total violations: 1
    • Observed chili, pulled pork that was past 7 day date marking. After speaking with person in charge stated foods item had pulled from the freezer and not correctly date marked after being removed from the freezer.
• China Village, 32 Pidgeon Hill Dr Sterling, VA 20165
  • Date inspected: July 11
  • Total violations: 7
    • The hand washing sink located to the left of the line in the back kitchen was observed blocked by a large rice cooker, as well as a container of utensils within its basin, impeding use. Hand washing sinks shall be accessible for employees to wash hands at all times. Handwashing sinks shall not be blocked, or used for any other purpose other than washing hands. Person in charge (PIC) moved the rice cooker so that the sink was accessible and removed the container of utensils so that the hand washing sink could be easily used.
    • No provision for drying hands was available at the hand sink located to the left of the line in the back kitchen area. Hand washing sinks shall be equipped with proper hand drying provisions at all times. Refill/replace the hand towel dispenser or make a hand drying provision available at all times so that employees can dry their hands properly after washing.
    • 2 large containers of tempura chicken were found cooling at improper time/temperature (81F). When asked the person in charge (PIC) stated that the chicken was fried this morning (10am). When cooling time/temperature control for safety foods (TCS) they must cool from 135F to 70F within 2 hours, and from 70F to 41F or less within 4 hours, with the entire process from 135F to 41F or less not to exceed 6 hours. PIC moved the tempura chicken to the walk-in freezer to rapidly cool to 41F or less.
    • Cooked chicken wings, tempura chicken and tempura shrimp were found cold holding on the line at improper temperature (72-74). TCS foods must be maintained at 41F or less to discourage the growth of harmful bacteria. PIC stated that the compressor for the cooler was not working and that it was in the process of being repaired (today). EHS identified all potentially hazardous foods (PHF) that are TCS. PIC voluntarily discarded these food items (tempura chicken & Shrimp, cooked chicken wings). Do not place TCS foods within this cooler until it is repaired and is capable of maintaining temperatures of 41F or less.
    • This facility uses time as the public health control (TPHC) for lomein noodles, cut cabbage and bean sprouts on it's line during lunch and dinner rushes. No time stamp was observed on these items during the inspection. When using TPHC, written documentation in the form of a temperature/time log or other means to track the time that TCS foods are not under proper temperature control must be provided. Time stamp all TCS foods that use TPHC.
    • Foods were observed stored on the floors of the walk-in refrigerator and the walk-in freezer. Food shall be protected from sources of contamination by storing them at least 6" off the floor. Move all foods so that they are at least 6" off the floor.
    • EHS observed several single-use to-go containers drying on a rack after being washed. Single-use articles shall not be re-used. PIC voluntarily discarded the cleaned to-go containers.
• Black Hog BBQ, 20064 Riverside Commons Plaza #180 Ashburn, VA 20147
  • Date inspected: July 11
  • Total violations: 1
    • Observed ribs thawing on a rack outside of the walk in cooler. Time/temperature control for safety food shall be thawed: under refrigeration that maintains the food temperature at 41°F or under running water
• Clove LLC, 45965 Regal Plaza Sterling, VA 20165
  • Date inspected: July 11
  • Total violations: 1
    • Raw shell eggs were observed stored over ready to eat (RTE) vegetables, and a container of raw beef was found stored under raw marinating chicken in the walk-in cooler. Person in charge has the raw beef moved to above the raw chicken, and the raw shell eggs moved to the shelf housing the raw chicken.

The following facilities did not record any violations:

• Yogi K Lover
• Tous les Jours
• Bao & Dimsum
• BBQ Chicken
• Huzzah Hobbies, LLC
• Peet's Coffee & Tea
• McDonalds
• El Fresco
• Kung Fu Tea
• Mediterranean Breeze Restaurant