The Journal publishes local restaurant inspection reports provided monthly by the Montezuma County Health Department.
Unannounced inspections are conducted for restaurants, school, hospital and nursing home cafeterias, grocery stores, convenience stores, fairgrounds, resorts, food trucks and any event or facility where food is sold to the public.
Inspections of all retail food facilities are done at least once a year.
Melissa Mathews conducts about 145 retail food facility inspections every year for Montezuma and Dolores counties as the Health Department’s environmental health specialist.
New inspection regulations took effect Jan. 1 in Colorado.
Colorado Retail Food Establishment Rules and Regulations are based on a national standard for retail food sales and include several changes.
Every facility serving food to the public must have at least one certified food protection manager, who may educate other staff, Mathews said.“Studies have shown that when there is a certified food protection manager at staff, foodborne illnesses go down,” Mathews said.
Courses typically take two days and include a test. Classes are available at 970-565-3056.
Restaurants and food facilities may use sturdy, noncommercial-grade equipment and use any size of hand-washing sink. Food may be prepared in the three-sink area previously restricted to dish washing.Facilities must date stored foods and must control food temperature.Customer containers may be used for to-go food, but after the container is washed properly by the facility.Staff must wash hands between glove changes when beginning a different task. Hand-washing between glove changes while doing the same task is no longer required. Food facilities must have procedures for cleaning up after vomiting and diarrheal events.New violation categories are “Priority,” “Priority Foundation” and “Core.” “Critical” and “noncritical” categories are no longer used. “Priority” and “Priority Foundation” are critical violations that might cause foodborne illness. “Core” violations are noncritical and carry less risk of foodborne illness.
Mathews said inspections now take longer because of the need to educate facility staff. Facilities are encouraged to keep a hard copy handy or bookmark it on a computer desktop.
Following are reports from August.
St. Barnabas of the Valley110 W. North St., Cortez
date: Aug. 29
priority violations: 0
priority foundation violations: 0
core violations: 0
McDonald’s1322 E. Main St., Cortez
date: Aug. 28
priority violations: 0
priority Foundation violations: 0
core violations: 0
Pippo’s Coffee Bar100 W. Main St., Cortez
date: Aug. 14
priority violations: 1
1. Preventing contamination from hands category
inspector comments: Employee observed handling tortillas, deli meats, cheese, buns, and bread with bare hands. Problem corrected during inspection.
priority foundation violations: 2
1. Demonstration category
inspector comments: The person in charge shall demonstrate knowledge by having no violations of priority items during the current inspection. Problem corrected during inspection.
2. Proper date marking and disposition category.
inspector comments: Foods that are held for more than 24 hours are not marked to indicate the day or date the food shall be consumed, sold or discarded when held at 41 degrees for a maximum of 7 days. Facility has a process in place for first-in, first-out rotation for cooked/cooled foods. Problem corrected during inspection.
core violations: 0
Burger Boy Drive In400 E. Main St., Cortez
date: Aug. 13
priority violations: 0
priority foundation violations: 0
core violations: 0
Baymont Inn & Suites2279 Hawkins St., Cortez
date: Aug. 12
priority violations: 0
priority Foundation violations: 0
core violations:0
DC Rack Haus330 U.S. 491 Dove Creek
date: Aug. 8
priority violations: 0
Priority Foundation violations: 1
1. Proper date marking and disposition category
inspector comments: Facility is not dating foods prepared and held for more than 24 hours in the facility. Problem corrected during inspection.
Core violations: 2
1. Certified food protection manager category
inspector comments: Facility does not have a certified person on staff. Currently working on the course and will be taking the exam at the training center.
2. Characteristics-materials for construction and repair category
inspector comments: Wall behind the sink in the dish washing area is no longer smooth and cleanable. There is mildew buildup.
Ocean Pearl Chinese Restaurant300 E. Main St., Cortez
date: Aug. 6
priority violations: 0
priority Foundation Violations: 1
1. Common name – working containers category
inspector comments: Spray bottles are not labeled with chemicals. Problem was corrected during inspection.
Core violations: 3
1. Certified food protection manage category
inspector Comments: Facility has not received the certification. Employee will take exam in the next month.
2. In-use utensils, properly stored
inspector comments: Storing knives between cold table and counters.
3. Non-food contact surfaces clean category
inspector comments: Hand sink has buildup of food debris, carts used to store containers of food are not clean. Refrigerated units are dirty on the inside and outside with food spills.
Bown’s Country Store42448 U.S. 160, Mancos
date: Aug. 2
priority violations: 0
priority foundation violations: 0
core violations: 0
Absolute Bakery & Cafe110 S. Main St., Mancos
date: Aug. 2
priority violations: 0
priority foundation violations: 0
core violations: 0
