Tucson Mexican Restaurant Placed on Probation After Roach Infestation Discovered

A local restaurant was cited for having an infestation of roaches.Photo byMikael SeegenonUnsplash

Typically, restaurants around greater Tucson are visited once annually by a local health inspector. However, there are occasions where, if there is any kind of history with less than stellar results, inspectors will pop in randomly just to make sure the restaurant is maintaining its health standards. One local restaurant here in Tucson was last inspected in March and received a “Good” overall rating. However, a surprise inspection a few weeks ago turned up entirely different results.

On July 16, Mariscos Mi Mazatlan at 5601 East 22nd Street received its second health inspection of the year. While generally unusual, the restaurant had three inspections the year before due to poor results, and so the health department wanted to make sure Mariscos Mi Mazatlan was maintaining its “Good” report card. However, on the July 16 inspection, a total of 13 violations were found, leading to the restaurant being placed on “Probation.”

Following a probation grade, health department officials will make subsequent inspections. If the necessary improvements are not made by these secondary inspections, the “Probation” grade will be switched to “Fail.”

The first issue happened almost instantly, as the inspector found no certified food protection manager certification. A restaurant that has been around for this long (current health inspection records date back to 2020) should know to stay on top of this important certification. The restaurant was given 10 days to rectify the issue. While the inspection date has come and gone, it does take the country several weeks to update its records, so the results of the repeat inspection will not be released until sometime in early August.

The inspector saw employees handling raw chicken, then move to washing dishes without ever washing their hands. When employees did wash their hands they did not do so adequately and their washing time was shorter than the required 20 seconds.

While looking through the prep area, the inspector found German cockroaches crawling over the prep area and in many other locations around the restaurant. German cockroaches are smaller than traditional roaches and are quick to multiply, so even with professional help, it can prove difficult to eradicate the pests once an infestation occurs.

There was an issue with the washing machine having a low PPM (parts per million), though the issue was corrected on the spot, and food in the walk-in cooler, which needs to have a temperature of no greater than 41 degrees, was found to have temps upward of 48 degrees.