Pickled Papaya, Sambusas Critical Violations At 2 Silver Spring Stores

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

Two of the food establishments were selling items that originated from unapproved sources. The items were discarded and the staff was warned not to sell such items in the future.

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."

7-Eleven #34366

During a Dec. 11 inspection, a Montgomery County HHS inspector found two critical violations at the 7-Eleven #34366 located at 11406 D Georgia Ave. The violations, which the inspector noted as repeat violations concerned the hot and cold holding temperatures of food.

The inspector observed yogurt and a tuna salad sandwich being kept at temperate above 41F. Store staff moved the items to refrigerators so that they would rapidly re-chill.

Pizza was being kept in a hot hold cabinet with a temperature of 127F. Food items out of temperature for less than four hours were reheated to 165F. The cabinet needed to maintain a hot holding temperature of 135F.

The inspector advised store staff not to keep food in a multi-shelf refrigerator that was not maintaining a temperature 41F or below. The store needed to make the unit functional or repair it.

The inspector also found several violations of good retail practice. While these were not critical violations, they needed to be corrected within 30 days.

• "No hot water at bathroom hand sinks. Provide.
• "No covered trashcan in bathrooms. Provide. REPEAT VIOLATION.
• "Gendered icons and language observed on single use bathroom door. Remove.
• "Residue observed inside microwaves. Clean.
• "No allergen trained employee on site. An allergen trained employee must be onsite at all times. REPEAT VIOLATION."

Engocha Market

On Dec. 11, an HHS inspector found a critical violation at the Engocha Market at 11406 Georgia Ave., Suite A. The store had obtained food from sources that were not approved, which was a repeat violation.

"Sambusas and pastes for sale in heated display cabinet made in home kitchen," the inspection report said. After being told not to sell homemade food, the staff voluntarily removed the items from sale.

The inspector listed the following violations of good retail practice and recommended corrections:

• "Food items, powdered ginger, ground cinnamon and dembelale, observed for sale without labels. Items pulled from sale. Label all food. REPEAT VIOLATION.
• "Leak observed from handle of three compartment sink. Repair. REPEAT VIOLATION.
• "Food items observed stored in bathroom. Relocate.
• "Residue observed inside microwave. Clean.
• "No Certified Food Safety Manager on site. A Certified Food Manager must be on site at all times. REPEAT VIOLATION.
• "Gendered icons observed on single use bathroom door. Remove."

Ligayas Filipino Food

An HHS inspector reported on Dec. 11 that the Ligayas Filipino Food at 11406-C Georgia Ave. had three critical violations concerning food being kept at the wrong temperature and food for sale that had been obtained from an unapproved source.

• "Pickled papaya made in facility and stored at ambient temperature observed for sale," the inspection report said. "Items voluntarily pulled from sale. Submit HACCP pickling procedure for approval to State of Maryland or maintain potentially hazardous food under refrigeration at all times."
• "Packaged sweet meat buns, packaged desserts made in facility, packaged small fried fish, observed for sale without labels. Products voluntarily removed from sale. Provide proper labeling.
• "Potentially hazardous foods, sticky rice, pastry with cheese, observed stored at ambient temperature. Foods out of temperature for less than 4 hours moved to refrigerator to rapidly re-chill. Store under temperature or time control.
• "Hot held potentially hazardous food, deep fried fish, observed below 135F. Foods out of temperature for less than four hours were reheated to 165F and then reset to hot hold. Maintain hot held foods at 135F or above."

The inspector also observed food spillage beneath storage shelves in the back of the store, which was a violation of good retail practice. Staff were told to clean the spill.

Wilshire Estate

On Dec. 11, an HHS inspector observed an employee at the Wilshire Estate located at 13716 New Hampshire Ave. handling a ready-to-serve potato with a bare hand. This was a critical violation and the food was immediately discarded.

Numerous violations of good retail practice were observed during the same inspection:

• "Fruit flies observed in the kitchen area.
• "Several surfaces of equipment including carts shelves under prep tables, mixing machine and shelves are soiled with old food/dirt debris.
• "The floor underneath and behind equipment are dirty.
• "The wall above the dish washing machine is moldy/dirty.
• "Walk-in freezer is not maintaining proper freezing temperature of 0'F, observed maintaining 32'F.

• "A double-door reach-in cooler marked "out of order" observed in the kitchen area.
• "Currently the facility is not under direct supervision of a manager with allergen
  awareness certification.
• "Currently the facility is not under direct supervision of a Montgomery County
  Certified food service manager. "

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