Mold, Droppings Found At 2 Rockville Food Establishments: Violations

ROCKVILLE, MD — Officials from Montgomery County Department of Health and Human Services inspected two Rockville restaurants on Sept. 11. One inspection was in response to a complaint from a customer who reported seeing mold at a senior living facility. An inspector also observed droppings on the floor of a pizza restaurant.

All Montgomery County licensed retail food establishments are inspected by the Licensure & Regulatory Services Program. Regular comprehensive inspections include evaluating an establishment's sanitation, maintenance and food service operations. These inspections include monitoring critical temperatures and food handling procedures.

Both of the restaurants that inspectors visited on Sept. 11 were cited for critical violations of food safety requirements.

"A Critical Violation means a food safety requirement that requires immediate correction," according to the health and human services website. "Failure for immediate correction results in cessation of some or all food operations or closure of the facility until violation is able to be corrected."

The Village at Rockville-Glenmere

A health and human services official visited The Village at Rockville-Glenmere located at 9803 Veirs Drive in response to a complaint from a customer who said they observed mold in the donning facility and in the back corners of the walk-in refrigerator.

The customer also reported seeing flies around the drains and that there were no gloves available. In addition, the line food was cold and not at the correct temperature. The food had also been improperly stored and left out for long periods of time. The inspector noted that the manager was not aware of the complaint.

The health department official included the following in their report:

• "Few fruit flies observed in the kitchen and storage room.
• "Some mold signs observed on the walls of walk-in cooler, under the unit's condensation system.
• "Some potentially hazardous foods observed near room temperatures, Chili at 106'F, a mix of tuna at 87'F.
• "Floor surfaces under and behind equipment in the kitchen area are dirty (with old dirt and food debris)."

The inspector reported that the sole corrective action for these four violations concerned the temperature at which the food was kept.

Vocelli Pizza

An HHS inspector found the Vocelli Pizza located at 1331-A Rockville Pike to be out of compliance for Rodent and Insects, as well as for Cold Holding Temperature.

The inspector included these observations and corrective actions in their report:

• "Items in the walk-in refrigerator and in the pizza prep unit observed not maintaining their regulated cold holding temperature.
• "No hot running water observed in the hand washing sink near the pizza oven. Provide hot running water, at least 100 degree F. Hot running water observed in the 3-compartment sink.
• "The hand washing near the 3-compartment sink observed blocked. Cleaning containers stored in the sink.
• "No thermometer observed in the facility to check food temperature. Provide as required
• "Salami inside plastic in the walk-in refrigerator observed covered by condensation ice.
• "A lot of droppings observed on the floor near the rear exit door and few dropping observed on the floor near the soda crate.
• "Ambient temperature of the walk-in freezer observed at 6 degree F.
• "The pizza prep unit observed not maintaining it's regulated cold holding temperature during the inspection. Standing water observed on the floor in the pizza prep unit. Repair the unit.
• "The floor of the walk-in refrigerator observed very unclean.
• "No self closure system observed on the restroom door. Provide as required."

"They have called a technician to repair the unit," the inspector wrote in the report. "According to the operator, the units were working properly in the morning. They also stated that the ambient temperature of the both units were below 40 degree F while they open the store."