Fredericksburg Health Inspections: Sewage Back Up Leads To Voluntary Temporary Closure

FREDERICKSBURG, VA — Several facilities in the Fredericksburg area recorded violations during recent inspections. One facility chose to voluntarily close during an inspection due to a back up of sewage, the Rappahannock Area Health District said.

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.
They 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 they can temporarily shut down an establishment until certain issues are solved.

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

• Family Food Palace (VA G72 138), 916 Churchill Dr Fredericksburg, VA 22407
  • Date inspected: Dec. 28
  • Total violations: 1
    • Observed absence of hot water on the mobile unit. It appears the hot water heater is not working to heat the water. Observed hot water at the 3 compartment sink at 36 degrees F and hand sink at 33 degrees F. The operator agreed to close to address the hot water issue.
• Super 8, 557 Warrenton Road Fredericksburg, VA 22405
  • Date inspected: Dec. 28
  • Total violations: 1
    • The employee toilet room door, which is located adjacent to the warewashing area, is not self-closing or tight sealing. Discuss requirements with the operator who reported it would be fixed within the next 24 hours.
• Guru Indian Cuisine, 3140 Cowan Blvd Fredericksburg, VA 22401
  • Date inspected: Dec. 28
  • Note: Facility chose to voluntarily close after an inspector's recommendation. The facility may reopen after the issue is resolved and the health department conducts another inspection, according to the report.
    • "Arrived at the facility to conduct a routine inspection. Observed sewage back up (gray water) at the prep sink, cook line, hand sink and mop sink," the health department inspector's report said. "Recommended voluntarily closure, person in charge complied."
• Burger King #21598, 5635 Plank Rd 117 Fredericksburg, VA 22407
  • Date inspected: Dec. 28
  • Total violations: 2
    • Facility does not have written procedures for the clean-up of vomiting or diarrheal events. Facility provided procedures during inspection.
    • The following non-food contact surfaces were observed with residue and debris build-up and are in need of cleaning: 1. Hood baffles located above oven; 2. Inside top of french fry hot hold unit; 3. Hot hold tray box located above french fry hot hold unit.
• Wendy's #6582, 588 Warrenton Road Fredericksburg, VA 22406
  • Date inspected: Dec. 29
  • Total violations: 1
    • Observed 16 foot candles of light in the female toilet room and 18 foot candles of light inside the men's toilet room.
• TownePlace Suites Fredericksburg, 4700 Market Street Fredericksburg, VA 22408
  • Date inspected: Dec. 30
  • Total violations: 2
    • Facility did not have quaternary ammonia available to sanitize equipment. Observed food equipment stored to air dry that was not sanitized after washing. Person in Charge had chlorine sanitizer that was then used to sanitize equipment.
    • Facility does not have an available small probe thermometer.
• McDonald's Restaurant #3258l, 5642 Plank Road Fredericksburg, VA 22407
  • Date inspected: Dec. 30
  • Total violations: 3
    • Observed sliced cheese and shredded lettuce stored at ambient temperatures using time as a public health control. Time marking on sliced cheese and shredded lettuce indicated a time greater that 4 hours. After discussion with the Person in Charge, the time generation on the machine was not properly calibrated. Food was relabeled with correct times.
    • Observed several food employees throughout the kitchen area of the food facility without proper hair restraints such as hats, hair nets, or beard guards.
    • Observed several food employees in kitchen area of food facility with jewelry or watches on wrists.
• IHOP, 10 Simpson Road Fredericksburg, VA 22406
  • Date inspected: Dec. 30
  • Total violations: 13
    • Observed the front service hand sink had no paper towels available. During the inspection the person in charge provided paper towels.
    • Observed in an undercounter freezer one pan of raw steaks stored above an uncovered container of frozen vegetables. During the inspection the raw steaks were relocated to the bottom shelf of the under counter freezer.
    • Observed soiled ladles and plates stored with clean equipment. During the inspection soiled ladles were relocated to the 3 compartment sink for rewashing.
    • Observed the follow items cold holding at improper temperatures in a top prep table cooler and in drawer coolers: 1. shell eggs 50 degrees F 2. cut lettuce 64 degrees F 3. one container of portioned out sour cream 72 degrees F 4. one pan of roasted tomatoes 74 degrees F 5. one container of country gravy 71 degrees F 6. one container of diced tomatoes 47 degrees F 7. one container of diced ham 46 degrees F 8. one container of shredded cheese 49 degrees F 9. one container of spinach 49 degrees F During the inspection foods that had been placed 3 hours prior to the inspection were relocated to the WIC.
    • Observed one container of hand sanitizer and one bottle of sanitizing wipes being stored above or near food prep areas. During the inspection the hand sanitizer and sanitizing wipes were relocated.
    • Observed one container with 7 individual ROP salmon filets that were not removed from the ROP packaging prior to thawing per the packaging instructions. During the inspection the salmon filets were discarded for safety.
    • Observed food employees working without proper hair and beard restraints.
    • Observed containers that were stored stacked while still wet.
    • Observed the following equipment in poor repair: 1. loose hand sink faucets 2. gaps at the hood vent area 3. 2 lights out at the hood vent area 4. the cover of the ice machine is held with blue tape
    • Observed several cutting boards heavily scored and one of the prep table cutting boards severely melted and damaged.
    • Observed the following non food contact surfaces in need of cleaning: 1.area under the hot line were plates are being stored is heavily soiled 2. shelve were clean dishes are stored 3. stove top in the back prep aera 4. shelves in the walk in cooler 5. the non food contact surface of pans being stored by the 3 compartment sink
    • Observed the mop sink faucet need a backflow prevention device due to a hose with a spray nozzle (not turned on during the inspection) was connected to the faucet.
    • Observed the following in need of cleaning: 1.floors behind and underneath equipment 2. AC/ceiling vents
• Fraternal Order of Eagles #4488, 2055 Richmond Highway Stafford, VA 22554
  • Date inspected: Jan. 3
  • Total violations: 13
    • The food establishment does not have at least one employee in a management or supervisory position who is a certified food protection manager.
    • The person in charge could not provide verification employees have been trained on the employee health policy. The operator was knowledgeable of symptoms and illnesses requiring reporting. The person in charge provided an unsigned copy of the employee health policy. Food employees completed the employee health policy during the inspection.
    • The person in charge could not provide written procedures for clean-up of vomiting and diarrheal incidents. Handouts were provided during routine inspection conducted on 12/17/2021; sample written procedures were provided during the inspection.
    • Observed the interior surfaces of the ice machine soiled.
    • Observed the interior door of the microwave oven soiled.
    • Observed container of cut lettuce (45 degrees F) cold holding at improper temperatures inside the top of the prep cooler. Observed the container sitting on top of a small stainless steel container, lettuce was being held above the refrigeration line. The person in charge reported the lettuce has been in the unit overnight and was voluntarily discarded for safety. Discussed holding TCS foods below the fill line of containers inside refrigeration equipment.
    • Observed a container of salsa which was opened on 12/26/2022 and should have been discarded on 1/1/2023. The person in charge discarded the container for safety. Discussed date marking and disposition requirements with the operator.
    • Observed plastic straws unprotected from contamination stored in a holder at the bar. The straws were not prewrapped or otherwise protected from contamination.
    • Observed uncooked rice stored in a Steralite plastic container which is not food grade or safe. Instructed the person in charge to store uncooked rice in a food grade container.
    • Observed accumulation of grime and debris on the following nonfood contact surfaces: Pizza oven, storage carts, toaster oven and shelving.
    • Observed accumulation of equipment not being used in the food establishment, as communicated by the operator. Discussed removing or placing equipment in storage.
    • Observed the following areas in need of cleaning: Floors under the warewashing area, mop sink, ceiling light covers inside the female toilet room and caulking behind the men's toilet room toilet. Recommend stripping and resealing the caulk behind the toilet.
    • Observed the following the following in poor repair: Caulk wall by the 2 door upright cooler, bare wood is exposed, damaged wall behind the 3 vat sink, damaged door on the interior of the men's toilet room, ceiling tiles are not tightly sealed to the frames in the kitchen, and seal holes in the ceiling tiles.
• Dickey's Barbecue Pit #783, 10008 Southpoint Pkwy Ste 100 Fredericksburg, VA 22407
  • Date inspected: Jan. 3
  • Total violations: 6
    • The Person in Charge was unable to provide documentation of training relating to the Employee Health Policy for this facility Facility provided with Employee Health Policy that was reviewed and signed by all available employees.
    • Facility does not have written procedures for the clean-up of vomiting or diarrheal events. Facility provided procedures during inspection.
    • Non-temperature control for safety (TCS) food-contact equipment (soda nozzles and taco press) observed to be soiled and are in need of cleaning. Equipment cleaned during inspection.
    • Observed spray bottle of chemicals without a label indicating the common name of the chemicals. Bottle labeled during inspection.
    • Observed several food employees not wearing beard guards as required.
    • The following non-food contact surfaces were observed to be soiled and are in need of cleaning: 1. Front of drawer warmer; 2. Inside top back of prep unit. Equipment cleaned during inspection.
• Best Western Aquia / Quantico, 2868 Richmond Hwy Stafford, VA 22554
  • Date inspected: Jan. 3
  • Total violations: 8
    • Documentation of employee health training of the food employee preparing breakfast service was not available. The food employee was knowledgeable of symptoms and illnesses requiring reporting. During the inspection the food employee completed the employee health policy. Ensure new employees are trained on the employee health policy.
    • Observed a food employee handle Chlorine sanitizer and then proceed to don single use disposable gloves to engage in food service without washing their hands. Instructed the food employee to wash their hands.
    • Observed single use utensils (spoons, knives and forks) stored in a dispenser with the food contact surface exposed for customer self-service.
    • The food establishment is reusing cardboard boxes which danish was received in to store oranges with peels intact. Instructed the person in charge to discontinue use of cardboard boxes, which are not durable, smooth or easily cleanable. The person in charge relocated the oranges to a food grade container during the inspection.
    • Observed 2-3 boxes of single use utensils stored on the floor in the refrigerated storage room.
    • The person in charge could not provide a test kit to monitor Chlorine sanitizer. The facility had a QT-10 test kit and uses Chlorine sanitizer.
    • Observed accumulation of debris on the following nonfood contact surfaces of equipment: 1- glue-like residue on the interior cabinets used to store single use articles in the breakfast service area and 2- shelving above the 3 vat sink.
    • Observed refrigerated storage room is used to store equipment and items not used for food service. Discussed relocating or segregating unnecessary equipment.

The following facilities did not record any violations:

• Hope Heroes
• Starbucks Coffee #10621 (Harrison's Crossing)
• Wendy's #7599
• Rosie's Pizza & Doener Kebab (VA92-589)
• Five Guys Burgers and Fries