How Clean Is Your Child's Cafeteria?

Cherry Hill public schools largely are in compliance with food safety regulations, although inspections found multiple violations at a middle and high school, county reports show.

Both Carusi Middle School and Cherry Hill High School East were rated “conditionally satisfactory” after their last inspections. Carusi in particular was dinged for several violations, including improper knowledge of hand washing, lack of a nearby sink for some employees and chicken not kept cold enough.

At East, the inspector found evidence of mouse droppings and dirty equipment.

Three other schools—James Johnson Elementary, Horace Mann Elementary and Cherry Hill High School West—also had violations, but none severe enough to drop them below a “satisfactory” rating.

Camden County puts its food safety reports online. The database allows users to look up reports for any food-serving establishment, including restaurants, schools and community centers. Users can also sign up for email alerts when their favorite eatery is inspected.

Below, find the reports for Cherry Hill public schools. Click on the rating to view the full report. The inspector’s comments accompany any noted violations.

Barclay Early Childhood Center: last inspected March 9, 2012. Satisfactory.

Clara Barton Elementary: last inspected Nov. 15, 2012. Satisfactory.

J.F. Cooper Elementary: last inspected Oct. 25, 2012. Satisfactory.

Bret Harte Elementary: last inspected Nov. 7, 2012. Satisfactory.

James Johnson Elementary: last inspected Oct. 9, 2012. Satisfactory.

Presence of insects/rodents minimized: outer opening protected, animals as allowed: “… About 50 ants are observed along the floor-wall juncture by the handwashing sink and by the 3-compartment sink. The visible ants have been removed by the custodial staff. … Within the food preparation area, old glue boards, containing dust, dirt and dead insects are not removed from the premises at a frequency that prevents this type of accumulation.”

Joyce Kilmer Elementary: last inspected Oct. 23, 2012. Satisfactory.

Kingston Elementary: last inspected Nov. 2, 2012. Satisfactory.

A. Russell Knight Elementary: last inspected Nov. 7, 2012. Satisfactory.

Horace Mann Elementary: last inspected Oct. 10, 2012. Satisfactory.

Proper warewashing facilities installed, maintained, cleaned, used; sanitizer test strips available, used: “Food facility lacks sanitizer test strips to monitor sanitizer concentration of sanitizer solution.” (repeat violation)

Thomas Paine Elementary: last inspected Oct. 12, 2012. Satisfactory.

Joseph D. Sharp Elementary: last inspected Oct. 26, 2012. Satisfactory.

Richard Stockton Elementary: last inspected Oct. 26, 2012. Satisfactory.

Woodcrest Elementary: last inspected Oct. 9, 2012. Satisfactory.

Beck Middle School: last inspected Oct. 26, 2012. Satisfactory.

Carusi Middle School: last inspected Nov. 15, 2012. Conditionally satisfactory.

PIC demonstrates knowledge of food safety principles pertaining to this operation: “The Person in Charge did not demonstrate adequate knowledge of the NJ Food Code. Specifically: in proper cooling procedures of potentially hazardous foods, cold holding of potentially hazardous foods, and proper handwashing procedures.”  

Handwashing conducted in a timely manner; prior to starting work, after using restroom, touching raw animal foods, smoking, etc.: “… Food employees did not follow proper handwash procedures. Food employees did not wash hands before donning gloves. … Food employees do not clean their hands before engaging in food preparation, such as, making sandwiches and serving pizza.”

Handwashing facilities provided in toilet rooms and prep areas; convenient, accessible, unobstructed: “… The handwashing sink is used to dispose of food debris and rinse utensils. … The deli service counter (located across the cafeteria) is not provided with a handwashing sink for employee use. At this location, food employees are making sandwiches and handling potentially hazardous foods. Gloves are worn by food employees but are changed infrequently and there is no proper handwashing before donning gloves.”

COLD HOLDING: PHFs maintained at 41°F: “… Diced chicken tenders are observed not being maintained at refrigeration temperatures. Three containers are measured at 76-F, 85-F, 98-F respectively. Per management, these items are ‘cooling.’…”

Materials, construction, repair, design, capacity, location, installation, maintenance: “The doors for the walk-in cooler and walk-in freezer are not maintained in a state of good condition. These doors do not close completely.”

Sewage & waste water properly disposed: “At the 3-compartment sink, a direct connection exists between the sewage system and a drain originating from the 3-compartment sink.”

Rosa International Middle School: last inspected Oct. 9, 2012. Satisfactory.

Cherry Hill High School East: last inspected Oct. 24, 2012. Conditionally satisfactory.

Proper separation of raw meats & raw eggs from ready-to-eat foods provided: “In the walk-in freezer, raw chicken is stored directly above raw beef and next to ready-to-eat chocolate brownies.”

Food contact surfaces properly cleaned & sanitized: “Food contact components of the two deli slicers are not washed and sanitized. Old food debris and grease is observed in these areas. Only the top portion of the blade has been washed and sanitized.”

Presence of insects/rodents minimized: outer opening protected, animals as allowed: “… 15 new rodent droppings along shelving in dry snack room (no evidence of product damage), 30 new rodent droppings along shelving in dry packaging room (adjacent to cases of walnuts), 3 new mouse droppings along canned good rack. … Potential rodent harborage area within the dry packaging room due to unnecessary racks and other equipment stored within this area.”

Cherry Hill High School West: last inspected Oct. 23, 2012. Satisfactory.

Presence of insects/rodents minimized: outer opening protected, animals as allowed: “In the dry storage area the following is observed: 5 new mouse droppings on shelving, 6 new mouse droppings along the floor wall juncture (adjacent to the entrance), and about 50 new mouse droppings behind the mechanical dryer.”

Cherry Hill Alternative High School: last inspected Nov. 16, 2012. Satisfactory.