Manassas Health Inspections: Food Truck Found 'Abandoned,' Inspector Says

MANASSAS, VA — Several facilities in the Manassas area recorded violations during recent health department inspections between May 1o and May 16.

Most COVID-19 restrictions have relaxed around the state, and health inspectors are returning to conduct many restaurant and other health inspections in person. However, some visits, such as those for training purposes, can be conducted virtually.

Violations 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. Other violations are addressed later, and an inspector may conduct a follow-up inspection to ensure compliance.

Here are the most recent inspections from the Manassas area, according to the Prince William Health District.

• Nicos Taco Truck, 120 Kent Village Square Manassas, VA 20111
  • Date inspected: May 10
  • Total violations: 3
    • Employee was not able to provide a verbal or written Employee Health Policy upon inspection.
    • The food establishment does not have written procedures for cleaning up vomiting or diarrheal events that happen in the facility.
    • No sanitizer available on truck.
• Nicos Taco Truck #2, 120 Kent Village Square Manassas, VA 20111
  
  • Date inspected: May 10
  • Total violations: 15
  • Note from inspector: "Truck found unattended. Burners and grill top observed on while generator off. Refrigeration/freezer units observed off and noted out of temperature. Mobile unit manager contacted and PIC arrived to assist. Everything discussed with Mobile unit manager via phone."
    
    • No one in the mobile unit.
    • The person in charge was not available at the time of inspection.
    • No employees monitoring food or maintaining refrigeration/freezer units.
    • There is no Northern Virginia Certified Food Protection Manager on duty during hours of operation. Truck/kitchen abandoned.
    • No 'Employee Health Policy' presented/on unit.
    • The food establishment does not have written procedures for cleaning up vomiting or diarrheal events that happen in the facility.
    • Raw animal food (beef, hot dogs, chicken) stored in the same bin inside of Reach-in-Refrigerator.
    • Food containers, storage bins and serving utensils observed coated with various contaminants (ie. dirt, soil, rust, grease etc.). Single serving items stored in bins.
    • The following food item(s) were found hot holding at improper temperatures using a calibrated food temperature measuring device: Beef/Pork BBQ 106? , Cheese 71? & Re-fried Beans 125?.
    • The following food item(s) were observed cold holding at improper temperatures using a calibrated food temperature measuring device: Raw beef 42? , Ham slices 55? , hot dogs 52? & pre-portioned rice 68?
    • Hot dogs removed from original packaging and kept in other food storage bins in reach-in-refrigerator with no date/time marking.
    • Poisonous/toxic spray found stored with food, equipment and single service items in such a way as to contaminate the items.
    • Bleach used to sanitize, but no test strips available for testing.
    • Food/non-food contact surfaces such as the walls, floor, counter spaces, pots, pans, utensils (knives) coated in grease and food contaminates.
    • Water under pressure is not provided as required to mobile unit. No hot water available (no water at all).
• Peterson's 2, 9925 Discovery Blvd. Manassas, VA 20109
  
  • Date inspected: May 11
  • Total violations: 1
    • There were no test strips for the Chlorine chemical sanitizer solution.
• La Gringa @ 2 Silos Brewing Company, 9925 Discovery Blvd. Manassas, VA 20109
  
  • Date inspected: May 11
  • Total violations: 3
    • There was no soap available at the small handwashing sink.
    • There was no ambient air temperature measuring device (thermometer) in the Delfield 4 drawer freezer.
    • There is no test kit located in the facility for monitoring the concentration of the chemical sanitizing solution (chlorine).
• The Pit, 9925 Discovery Blvd. Manassas, VA 20109
  
  • Date inspected: May 11
  • Total violations: 1
    • There were no test strips for the Chlorine chemical sanitizer solution.
• Popeye's, 8418 Sudley Rd Manassas, VA 20109
  
  • Date inspected: May 12
  • Total violations: 2
    • Soda dispensing equipment was observed in a state of repair and condition preventing the equipment to be used as designed. The equipment is leaking to the floor.
    • The mop sink faucet vacuum breaker is under pressure. Y connection installed.
• Birmingham Green #1, 8605 Centreville Rd Manassas, VA 20110
  
  • Date inspected: May 15
  • Total violations: 14
    • Employees are not using proper methods to rapidly cool time/temperature control for safety food that is not held hot or is not for consumption within four hours, through daily oversight of the employees' routine monitoring of food temperatures during cooling. ( lettuce and Tomato held at 64,54) 9. Employees are no properly maintaining the temperatures of time/temperature control for safety food during hot and cold holding through daily oversight of the employees routine monitoring of food temperatures. ( Zucchini held at 128) 11. Employees are not properly sanitizing cleaned multiuse equipment and utensils.
    • The Person In Charge (PIC) was not able to provide documentation that all food employees or conditional employees were trained and informed of their responsibilities to report symptoms or diagnosis of, or exposure to, diseases transmissible through food.
    • No hand drying provisions were provided at the handwashing sink in the Kitchen area.
    • The establishment uses Washing machine hot water sanitizing method, hot water immersion. The temperature of the water was measured 158F.
    • Slicer Machine was observed not clean and food debris was observed in the equipment.
    • Zucchini TCS FOOD at One door glass display device hot holding at improper temperatures.
    • CFPM verbally said that they use food contact sanitizer for washing vegetable.
    • Container of tomatoes 54 degrees F, and Lettuce at 65 degree F were held in 3 door refrigerator for cooling. ( still within cooling timeline)
    • Electrical insect trap device was observed over the refrigerator and food contact surfaces in the kitchen.
    • Employee observed having watch in his/her hand working in food prep area.
    • Reach in refrigerator was observed in disrepair across the stove.
    • There is no test strip available in the establishment to monitor the sanitization of heat sanitizer of dishwashing machine.
    • The non-food contact surface of the fan located in the kitchen has accumulations of dust.
    • Ceiling were observed perforated in the kitchen area.
• CraftWorx Taproom, 5615 Wellington Road Suite 101 Gainesville, VA 20155
  
  • Date inspected: May 15
  • Total violations: 1
    • There were utensils in an upright drawer storage containers.
• West Gate Elementary School, 8031 Urbanna Rd Manassas, VA 20109
  
  • Date inspected: May 16
  • Total violations: 4
    • A food employee performing dish washing tasks failed to wash her hands after handling soiled utensils, serving trays, and food storage containers before engaging in handling the cleaned and sanitized utensils, serving trays, and food storage containers.
    • Chicken for tacos were (observed at 125*F) hot holding at improper temperatures.
    • Shredded cheese for tacos in a ice bath (observed at 58*F) cold holding at improper temperatures.
    • There is no waste receptacle located at the hand washing sink.

The following facilities did not record any violations:

• Unity Braxton Middle School
• Unity Reed High School
• Merit School of Braemar
• Taqueria la Esperanza #1
• Baldwin Elementary/Intermediate School
• Papi Chulo Tacos & Tequila
• Merit School of Manassas Park
• Blessings Food On The Go