Chew Marks On Chip Bags, Mouse Droppings Found At Silver Spring Eatery

SILVER SPRING, MD — Inspectors from the Montgomery County Department of Health and Human Services recently reported critical violations at four Silver Spring food establishments.

All four of the food establishments had violations involving the holding temperatures and safe handling of food. But in one report, the inspector reported seeing chew marks on chip bags and mouse droppings along the backs of chip shelves, soda shelves, and in corners of the storage area.

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.

"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."

Belpre Healthcare Center

During an inspection of the Belpre Healthcare Center located at 2425 Reedie Drive, a Montgomery County Health and Human Services inspector found a critical violation involving the center's cold holding temperature.

"Potentially hazardous foods observed at higher temperature (fruit cocktail at 53'F on a cart to be served, and sausage at 76'F on prep table)," the report said. "The sausage was sliced and kept on prep table to be added to pizza. Should be placed in a colder unit to bring to below 41'F until ready to prep for pizza."

As a corrective measure, the center placed the fruit cocktail back in the walk-in cooler to rapidly cool to below 41'F.

The center was also given 10 days to correct the following violations of good retail practices:

• "Fruit flies observed in the storage room.
• "No hand soap provided to at the hand sink in the prep area. The dispenser is not working/ empty.
• "Moldy wall under and behind the dish machine's table.
• "There are missing floor-wall junction tiles, damaged walls in the kitchen area.
• "The hot water fixture in the men's bathroom is not working, the soap dispenser is broken, and not paper towel provided in the ladies room."

Club Demonstration Services

During a Nov. 1 inspection, an HHS inspector observed a critical violation at the Club Demonstration Services located 11160 Veirs Mill Road. Employees were failing to clean their hands properly. Once this was pointed out, the employees took corrective measures.

"Employees observed changing gloves without washing hands," the report said. "Employees immediately informed and washed hands and put on new gloves."

The inspector also reported seeing the handle of a scoop touching read-to-eat food. The employees were told they needed to keep the handle separate from the food.

Gola Restaurant and Market

The Gola Restaurant and Market located at 2159 Industrial Parkway had a critical violation, according to a Nov. 1 inspection report.

"Prepared potentially hazardous food observed at improper cold holding temperatures greater than 41 degrees F on prep table," the report said. "Maintain prepared potentially hazardous foods at proper cold holding temperatures of 41 degrees F or less."

In addition, no manager was at the restaurant at the time of the inspection.

"A Montgomery County certified food manager must be in immediate control of facility," the inspector wrote. "Manager arrived at the end of inspection."

The restaurant and market had seven violations of good retail practices. While not critical, these violations needed to be corrected within 30 days.

• "No employee present with certification in food allergen awareness training. An employee with certification in food allergen awareness must be on site at all times of operation.
• "HACCP plans are not available; employee is not familiar with the HACCP. Maintain a current copy of the HACCP on site at all times. Train the employees on the HACCP procedures, as required.
• "Spoons and cooking utensils stored with food contact surface in upright position. Avoid unnecessary hand contact. Invert.
• "Non-working monitoring thermometer inside prep refrigerator next to toaster oven.
• "Non-commercial microwave oven observed on food prep table. Provide a NSF approved or equivalent microwave oven as reheating and cooking.
• "Hot water in handsink is 130 degrees F.
• "Two uncovered lights observed inside hood. Provide a cover for the lights over the cook line equipment, as required."

El Dorado Food Market

On Nov. 3, an HHS inspector visited the El Dorado Food Market on 11441 Amherst Ave. and found two critical violations. The violations involved food not being kept at the correct temperature and was not separated and protected from adulteration, spoilage, and contamination.

"Hot held food, empanada of plantain, observed below 135F," the report said. "Food out of temperature for less than 4 hours set to be reheated to 165oF. Maintain hot held foods at 135F or above."

The market was also gigged for storing meat above vegetables in the walk-in freezer. The inspector noted that this was a repeat violation.

The inspection report included the following violations of good retail practices:

• "Chew marks observed on chip bags. Chip bags voluntarily discarded.
• "Mouse droppings observed along backs of chip shelves, soda shelves, and in corners of storage area. Obtain emergency pest treatment within 48 hours. Contract professional pest control at the frequency of once a week. Treat for rodents. Clean all droppings.
• "Hot water observed at a maximum of 86F in employee and customer bathroom. Provide hot water at a minimum of 100F.
• "No paper towels at butcher hand sink, and no soap or paper towels in customer bathroom. Keep hand sinks supplied at all times.
• "Popsicles, cut peppers, pastries, jello, empanadas of plantain and frozen fish observed for sale without proper labeling. Provide proper labeling with ingredients for all products. REPEAT VIOLATION
• "Discharge pipe under chicken display fridge not plumbed to drain or evaporator. Water observed collecting in tray. Repair.
• "Gendered icons observed on gender neutral bathroom sign. Remove gendered icons."

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