Reality Check is a Merced Sun-Star series holding those in power to account and shining a light on their decisions. Have a tip? Email tips@mercedsun-star.com .
Three food markets scattered across Merced County and one restaurant received “unsatisfactory” scores as a result of food-safety violations found by county health inspectors in June.
But several other businesses that received failing scores previously managed to improve their ratings to “good” or “satisfactory” levels last month.
The places that fell short in their June inspections are Carneceria Don Goyos in Merced, Santa Nella Food Center in Santa Nella, El Michoacana restaurant in Los Banos, and Oasis Market and Liquor in Turlock.
For the Oasis Market, June’s unsatisfactory rating was the result of a mandatory reinspection following a previous failing rating in April.
The county gives “good” ratings to businesses with six or fewer violation points, “satisfactory” ratings for seven to 13 violation points, and “unsatisfactory” ratings for 14 or more violation points. Nine food businesses received satisfactory marks, and 27 received “good” scores – including 14 where no violations were found.
The Oasis Market at Lander Avenue and Bradbury Road near Turlock racked up 25 violation points in a June 12 inspection, including a repeat violation for the store’s workers being unaware of proper sanitation of equipment. The inspection also found barbecue labeled “refrigerate after opening” was not being kept at a proper temperature; milk stored directly on the floor of the walk-in refrigerator; and grime covering the nozzle of the ice machine at a beverage station used by customers.
The store accumulated 27 violation points in its April 23 inspection. A reinspection will be required.
Violations found at the other “unsatisfactory” businesses included:
- Carneceria Don Goyos, 2980 Beachwood Dr. in Merced: A June 21 inspection resulted in 21 violation points. Among the concerns were ongoing sales of dehydrated mean prepared at the site without a license from the state Department of Food & Agriculture, a repeat violation from May; the meat was discarded by an employee during the inspection. A trash can was also placed in front of the handwashing sink, violating regulations that the handwash station be kept clear of obstructions. A reinspection will be required.
- Santa Nella Food Center, 13193 S. Highway 33 in Santa Nella: A June 12 inspection found violations including improper washing of food-contact surfaces; failure to properly clean utensils and equipment; and a bucket of ice cream sitting on the floor of the walk-in freezer. The inspection resulted in a total of 17 violation points. A reinspection will be required.
- El Michoacano restaurant, 2160 E. Pacheco Blvd. in Los Banos: The restaurant received 43 violation points in a June 26 inspection as a result of violations including staff switching between handling raw product to cooking to washing dishes without washing hands between chores; employees putting on gloves without washing their hands first; workers knowingly using the dishwashing machine without using sanitizer; shellfish stored in unlabeled containers and left unattended; food in the top level of a food-prep refrigerator that was not being held at 41 degrees or below; and more. A reinspection will be required.
Six other food businesses improved their scores in June since their previous unsatisfactory inspections. They are:
- La Michoacana Market at 1005 6th St. in Los Banos, which received a “good” rating with one violation point in a June 7 inspection, compared to 14 points in an April 17 inspection.
- Juliana’s Bakery Inc. at 1010 6th St. in Los Banos, which received a “good” rating with five violation points in a June 7 inspection, compared to 32 points in an April 26 inspection.
- A1 Step & Save at 403 Mercey Springs Road in Los Banos, which received a “satisfactory” rating with seven violation points in a June 7 inspection, compared to 15 points in a May 9 inspection.
- Santa Fe Foods at 1109 6th St. in Los Banos, which received a “good” rating with six violation points in a June 10 inspection, compared to 26 points in an April 17 inspection.
- Sugoi Sushi at 1245 E. Pacheco Blvd. in Los Banos, which received a “good” rating with five violation points in a June 10 inspection, compared to 36 points in a May 10 inspection.
- Chili’s Grill and Bar at 1905 E. Pacheco Blvd. in Los Banos, which received a “good” rating with five violation points in a June 26 inspection, compared to 31 violation points in a May 22 inspection.
Merced County’s Environmental Health Division maintains a database of restaurant and food inspections online for public viewing at its web page, www.countyofmerced.com/597/Environmental-Health; click the “Food Inspections” tab along the left side of the page.
Most Popular
Comments / 0