Herndon Restaurant Violations: Worker Preps Food After 'Touching Bare Human Body Parts'

HERNDON, VA — Fairfax County regularly conducts inspections of Herndon restaurants. Reports are generally posted about a week after the inspection. We've listed the violations from inspections at Herndon restaurants -- including some shocking food prep fouls at La Ong Thai Bistro -- between June 16-20, the most recent dates available.

Copan Restaurant, 733 Elden Street

Date: 6/19
Violation: 3

Critical violation: Observation (CORRECTED DURING INSPECTION): The date when the last shellstock from the container is sold or served is not recorded on the tag or label. OBSERVED SHELL STOCK TAGS NOT MARKED WITH DATE OF LAST SALE OR SERVED.

Critical violation: Observation (REPEAT) (CORRECTED DURING INSPECTION): The following food item(s) were observed cold holding at improper temperatures using a calibrated food temperature measuring device: CHICKEN (X3) 45F, 45F, 47F IN COCA COLA 1 DR GLASS COOLER. SOPA DE GALLINA (44F) IN SUPERIOR 2 DR UR COOLER.

Critical violation: Observation (CORRECTED DURING INSPECTION): The following raw and/or undercooked foods are provided on the menu, menu board, table tent or brochure without proper disclosure: CEVICHE MIXTO CON CALAMARES Y CAMARONES.

Corporate Chefs @ Center of Innovative Technology, 2214 Rockhill Rd

Date: 6/16
Violations: 2

Critical violation: Observation (CORRECTED DURING INSPECTION): The following refrigerated, ready-to-eat, potentially hazardous food that is prepared on site is not used or discarded within 24 hours of preparation and was not observed to be date marked: Pasta, hard boiled eggs, cut melon.

Critical violation: Observation: A review of the menu with the foodservice operator indicates that there is no consumer advisory for the following food item(s) that may be served raw and/or undercooked:

Royal Golden Restaurant, 1141 Elden St. #104

Date: 6/16
Violations: 3

Non-critical violation: Observation (CORRECTED DURING INSPECTION): The following food items that are not easily identified by appearance were observed without a label: SALT, SUGAR, MSG

Non-critical violation: Observation (REPEAT) (CORRECTED DURING INSPECTION): Dispensing and/or in-use utensils improperly stored between use as follows: tongs on stove handle, knife in crevice between 2 Door Prep Cooler and counter.

Non-critical violation: Observation: Observed that the FLOOR ALONG THE COOKLINE NEAR THE FRYER is in need of cleaning.

La Ong Thai Bistro, 2521 John Milton Drive

Date: 6/16
Violations: 4

Critical violation: Observation (REPEAT): A food employee failed to wash his or her hands before engaging in food preparation, after touching bare human body parts, after coughing, sneezing, eating, after handling soiled utensils, or after engaging in any activity that could contaminate the hands. OBSERVED ALL FOOD EMPLOYEES ENTER KITCHEN FROM BREAK AND PROCEED TO COOK AT COOKLINE WITHOUT WASHING HANDS PRIOR. OBSERVED FOOD EMPLOYEES PUT ON NEW GLOVES WITHOUT WASHING HANDS PRIOR.

Critical violation: Observation (REPEAT): The following raw and/or undercooked foods are provided on the menu, menu board, table tent or brochure without proper disclosure: SPICY BEEF SALAD (NUM TOK)

Non-critical violation: Observation: Employees are not aware of or are not practicing proper methods to rapidly cool potentially hazardous food (PHF).

Non-critical violation: Observation: The following methods used for cooling were not adequate to facilitate proper cooling: OBSERVED COOKED CHICKEN IN PLASTIC BAGS THAT HAVE NOT PROPERLY COOLED PRIOR TO PORTIONING IN BAGS. OBSERVED OVERFILLED CONTAINERS IN PREP TOP COOLERS, FOOD EMPLOYEES ARE KEEPING FOOD ITEMS OUT AT ROOM TEMPERATURE TO COOL FOR AN UNMONITORED NUMBER OF HOURS.

Image via Wikimedia user Dion Hinchcliffe