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 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.
Dolores Community Center400 Riverside Ave., Dolores
Date: Jan. 27
Priority violations: 0
Priority Foundation Violations: 0
core violations: 0
Ocean Pearl Chinese Restaurant300 E. Main St., Cortez
date: Jan. 24
priority violations: 0
priority Foundation violations: 1
1. Proper date marking category
Inspector Comments: Facility is not date marking. Problem corrected during inspection.
core violations: 2
1. Certified Food Protection Manager category.
inspector comments: Facility will be attending the class Jan. 27 and 28.
2. In-use utensils properly stored category.
inspector comments: Storing knives between equipment in the kitchen. Also storing ice scoop on the top of canned goods.
Denny’s No. 71702059 E. Main St.
date: Jan. 8
priority violations: 1
1. Proper cooling time and temperature category.
inspector comments: Observed potatoes that had been prepared at 3:57 a.m. The potatoes were at 80 degrees Fahrenheit at 11:30 am. Product had not cooled properly from 135 degrees Fahrenheit to 70 degrees Fahrenheit in 2 hours and then from 70 degrees Fahrenheit to 41 degrees Fahrenheit in 4 additional hours. Product was discarded. Using approved procedure but will monitor to verify the procedure is working.
priority foundation violations: 0
core violations: 0
St. Barnabas of the Valley110 W North St., Cortez
date: Jan. 21
Priority violations: 0
priority foundation violations: 0
core violations: 1
1. Certified Food Protection manager category.
inspector Comments: Facility does not have a certified person on staff for the shelter.
Hamburger Haven108 E Grand Ave., Mancos
date: Jan. 22
priority violations: 0
priority foundation violations: 0
core violations: 0
Fahrenheit Coffee Roasters201 W Grand Ave., Mancos
date: Jan. 22
priority violations: 0
priority Foundation violations: 0
core violations: 0
Mesa Elementary School703 W. Seventh St., Cortez
date: Jan. 21
priority violations: 0
priority foundation violations: 0
core violations: 0
Wendy’s221 E. Main St.
date: Jan. 13
priority violations: 0
priority foundation violations: 0
core violations: 0
Thai Cortez1430 E. Main St., Cortez
date: Jan. 15
priority violations: 0
priority Foundation violations: 0
core violations: 0
Cox’s Corner Store18794 U.S. Highway 491, Lewis
date: Jan. 8
priority violations: 0
priority Foundation violations: 0
core violations: 0
Absolute Bakery & Cafe110 S. Main St., Mancos
date: Jan. 9
priority violations: 0
priority foundation violations: 0
core violations: 0
KFC of Cortez2222 E. Main St., Cortez
Date: Jan. 10
priority violations: 0
Priority Foundation violations: 0
core violations: 0
P and D Grocery & Mancos Pizza230 E. Frontage Road, Unit 5, Mancos
date: Jan. 9
priority violations: 0
priority Foundation violations: 0
core violations: 0
