Fredericksburg Health Inspections: Flying Insects, Soiled Ice Machines

FREDERICKSBURG, VA — Several facilities in the Fredericksburg area recorded violations during recent inspections from the Rappahannock Area Health District. Inspectors conducted the most recent visits between Oct. 4 and Oct. 10.

In Virginia, all food service locations are supposed to be inspected at least once per year. Facilities with higher risk factors may be inspected as often as four times per year, according to the Virginia Department of Health.

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. Sometimes, the follow-up inspection only considers the most important "priority" violations.

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.

Depending on the results of the inspection, the health department can pursue several actions.

It can issue a permit for the restaurant to continue serving food, they can schedule a follow-up inspection to determine if violations have been rectified, or officials can temporarily shut down an establishment until certain issues are solved.

The Virginia Department of Health only recommends restaurants have their permits suspended when "the continued operation of the foodservice presents a substantial and imminent threat to the public health."

Here are the most recent violations as listed by the Rappahannock Area Health Department:

• Table 9 Kitchen, 1610 Publix Way Suite 108 Stafford, VA 22554
  • Date inspected: Oct. 4
  • Total violations: 1
    • Observed raw chicken, beef and shrimp stored over opened boxes of cabbage, covered containers of sauces and cooked noodles in the walk-in cooler. During the inspection the raw animal foods were relocated to prevent contamination.
• Waffle House #930, 10357 Patriot Hwy Fredericksburg, VA 22408
  
  • Date inspected: Oct. 4
  • Total violations: 7
    • Observed the high temp dishwashing machine on the front line at 146 degrees on the finally rinse cycle.The person in charge contacted maintenance to assess the issue during the inspection. EHS advised the person in charge to convert to using the three compartment sink to wash, rinse and chemical sanitization.
    • Observed the interior of the ice machine soiled to sight.
    • Observed the following contact surfaces stored soiled to sight. 1. Stack of glass plates above the prep line 2. Several cooking utensils in cabinets under the grill 3. Several frying pans Items were removed during the inspection to be cleaned.
    • Through discussion with the person in charge the bacon cheeseburger on the menu can be cooked to order. Observed on the menu the bacon cheeseburger has no asterisk.
    • Observed several flying insects throughout the facility. EHS advised the person in charge to contact their pest control services to further assess the issue.
    • Observed the backdoor by the three compartment sink is not self closing.
    • Observed the following non food contact surfaces in need of cleaning: 1. Interior and exterior of reach-in coolers and prep coolers on front line 2. Exterior of cooking equipment ( including in between equipment ) 3. All shelving on front line
• Inn At The Old Silk Mill, 1707 Princess Anne Street Fredericksburg, VA 22401
  
  • Date inspected: Oct. 4
  • Total violations: 2
    • Observed 4 small cartons of milk in the cooler with an expiration date of 10/2. During the inspection milks were discarded.
    • Observed wall tiles in the storage room missing or cracked, some holes were observed in the walls.
• Subway Restaurant, 1670 Carl D. Silver Parkway Fredericksburg, VA 22401
  
  • Date inspected: Oct. 4
  • Total violations: 2
    • Observed a container of chicken cold holding at 53 degrees F and one container of shaved steak cold holding at 51 degrees F in the walk in cooler. Through discussion with the person in charge, items had thawed at room temperature on a prep table and placed inside the walk in cooler 1 hour before the inspection. The container of chicken and steak were taken to the walk in freezer to rapid cool. Steak and chicken came down to 41 degrees F for the chicken and 37 degrees F for the shaved steak within 30 minutes.
    • Through discussion with the person in charge at times the facility will thaw items out at room temperature. EHS discussed approved thawing methods with person in charge and employee on staff.
• Shandiz Kabob, 18 Finial Way Suite #104 Stafford, VA 22554
  
  • Date inspected: Oct. 4
  • Total violations: 5
    • Observed employee personal belongings stored near food and single service articles throughout the food establishment. Items were relocated during the inspection.
    • Observed accumulation of debris on the non contact surfaces of the refrigeration units.
    • Observed multiple vials of employee medications/supplements stored on top of a prep table and the side of the prep cooler. During the inspection the employee medications were relocated to a table that is for employee use only.
    • Observed raw chicken and raw lamb stored over cooked gyro meat and cooked chicken in the reach in cooler in the back of the house. Items were relocated during the inspection.
    • The food establishment does not have written procedures for cleaning up vomiting or diarrheal events that happen in the facility. EHS provided a handout during the inspection.
• Thornburg Middle School, 6929 North Roxbury Mill Road Spotsylvania, VA 22553
  
  • Date inspected: Oct. 5
  • Total violations: 4
    • There were no paper towel at the hand sink located near the steam kettle. Paper towel was provided during inspection.
    • Observed a heavy layer of ice inside of the ice cream freezer in the kitchen being used as food storage.
    • A box fan in the kitchen and the top of the milk display cases of the serving line were observed soiled.
    • Observed a purse and a jacket store in the food preparation area. Items were relocated during inspection.
• F.O.E. #412, 21 Cool Springs Road Fredericksburg, VA 22405
  
  • Date inspected: Oct. 5
  • Total violations: 14
    • Observed a food employee lathering hands under the running water, turn off the faucet with their bare hands, and then dry their hands with a paper towel.
    • Observed a bent, single-use paper plate in the large rice bin, and a coffee cup in the sugar, both were being used to dispense the food items.
    • Observed the hand sinks in the toilet rooms used by staff with water temperatures below 100 degrees F.
    • The banquet hall men's room paper towel dispenser wasn't working properly, and game room men's room didn't have paper towels at all. All handwashing sinks must be supplied with paper towels.
    • Observed the interior, non-food contact surfaces, of the ice machine soiled.
    • Multiple items in stainless steel, aluminum, and plastic pans were not labeled in the walk-in cooler and several reach-in coolers. Ensure all items held more than 24 hours out of the original package are date marked.
    • Observed the following openings in need of repair/sealing: 1. opening in the drywall around the exhaust vent for the warewashing machine; 2. opening around the conduit lines in the ceiling in dry storage area; 3. one ceiling tile in the dry storage area needs to be reseated.
    • Observed multiple stainless steel and plastic containers stored stacked and still wet.
    • Observed 1 red, 1 green, and 1 white cutting board heavily scored.
    • Observed the following in need of repair: 1. the three door reach-in freezer has heavy icing; 2. the drink cooler at the bar area iced so that it was difficult to open; 3. the Superior two door reach-in cooler near the flat top grill leaking in the back; 4. the dish machine heat booster is leaking. A work order is in for the reach-in cooler, and a part has been ordered for the dish machine heat booster, per the person in charge.
    • Observed the following in need of resealing: 1. handwashing sink near the office; 2. the sink backsplash in the deli meat prep area; 3. the sink backsplash near the dish machine.
    • Observed the interior compartments and doors of the warewashing machine soiled.
    • Observed the following soiled: 1. multiple shelving throughout the facility; 2. backsplash of the sink and prep table in the meat slicing area; 3. the seal of the beer walk-in cooler.
    • The A/C vents throughout the facility and the filters on the vent hood are heavily soiled.
• Starbucks Coffee #7918, 1495 Stafford Market Place Suite 117 Stafford, VA 22556
  
  • Date inspected: Oct. 10
  • Total violations: 3
    • Per discussion with the person in charge the equipment that come in contact with time/temperature control for safety (TCS) food (dairy) is not being sanitized every four hours. Equipment was taken to the warewashing area to be washed and sanitized.
    • There is no temperature measuring device available to measure the temperature of the hot water dishmachine.
    • Observed equipment used to rinse pitchers installed in two sinks in the front of the house that were connected to the main water line without a proper backflow prevention device.
• Jersey Mike's Subs, 1495 Stafford Market Place Suite #119 Stafford, VA 22556
  
  • Date inspected: Oct. 10
  • Total violations: 7
    • Employee was unable to provide documentation of training relating to the employee health policy for this facility.
    • Observed a food employee chewing gum in the front of the house near preparation area. Employee was instructed to discard the gum.
    • Observed that the ice chute and dispensing tubes in the soda machine in the lobby require cleaning.
    • Observed several stainless steel food containers to be soiled to the sight and touch. Containers were relocated to the warewashing area to be washed and sanitized.
    • Observed a stainless steel container of sliced tomatoes stored in the cold holding drawer near the grill that were sliced 4 hours prior to temperature check. Tomatoes were discarded. Discussed proper cooling with the person in charge.
    • Observed two spray bottles that were not labeled. One of the bottles contained water and the other contained chemicals- both bottles were labeled during the inspection.
    • Observed several stainless steel food containers stored on shelves over the 3 compartment sink that were stacked while wet after cleaning and sanitizing. Items were relocated to the 3 compartment sink to be washed, sanitized, and properly dried.
• Firehouse Subs, 1251 Carl D. Silver Pkwy Fredericksburg, VA 22401
  
  • Date inspected: Oct. 19
  • Total violations: 9
    • Observed a food employee take a food order at the register continued to make a food order without washing hands first. EHS discussed with food employees to wash hands before working with foods.
    • Per discussion with the food employees food contact surfaces (knives, cutting boards) are not getting cleaned or switched out at least once every 4 hours. EHS discussed with food employees to increase the frequency to every 4 hours or less to wash or switch with clean equipment.
    • Observed the two cookie and brownie ovens heavily soiled.
    • Observed one container of chili hot holding at 109-114 degrees F. Per discussion with a food employee, chili was reheated 5 minutes prior. EHS instructed person in charge to reheat the chili to ensure it reached the required temperature. Chili was reheated within 10 minutes to 172 degrees F.
    • Observed one pack of chili thawing in a container of water on the counter. EHS discussed approved thawing methods with food employees. Chili was taken to a food prep sink to thaw under cool (70 degrees or less) running water.
    • Person in charge unable to provide a thin probe thermometer.
    • Observed the test strips for the chemical sanitizer expired 3/1/23.
    • Observed the following non food contact surfaces in need of cleaning: 1. soda machine (upsplash and backsplash) 2. the top portion of the sandwich prep coolers.
    • Observed the following facilities in need of cleaning: 1. fan vents in the men and womens bathroom 2. floors under equipment of the back and front kitchen area 3. floor drains under the 3 compartment sink and food prep sink.

The following facilities did not record any violations:

• King George Elementary
• King George High School
• Dixon Smith Middle School
• McAlister's Deli
• Riverview Elementary School
• La Deliciosa FXBG
• Colonial Forge High School
• WNB Factory