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.

Arby’s504 S. Broadway St., Cortez

date: Nov. 5

priority violations: 0

priority foundation violations: 0

core violations: 0

Once Upon a Sandwich7 W. Main St., Cortez

date: Nov. 8

priority violations: 3

1. Hands cleaned and properly washed category.

inspector comments: Observed employee coming back into the kitchen and not washing hands before donning gloves. Problem corrected during inspection.

2. Food separated and protected category.

inspector comments: Observed employee handling raw hamburger with gloves on hands, then handling shared utensils and have incidental contact with a ready-to-eat food. Also observed employee wiping gloved hands on dirty apron. Problem corrected during inspection.

3. Proper cold holding temperatures.

inspector comments: Observed deli turkey slices as 51 degrees Fahrenheit. Observed chicken salad at 46 degrees. Both were located in the refrigerated unit by the hot line. Turkey is heated on the flat top. Chicken salad will be chilled on ice. Problem corrected during inspection.

priority foundation violations: 1

1. Demonstration category.

inspector comments: The person in charge shall demonstrate knowledge by complying with this code by having no violations of priority items during the current inspection. Problem corrected during inspection.

core violations: 2

1. Certified food protection manager category.

inspector comments: Facility does not have a certified manager.

2. Eating, drinking category.

inspector comments: Open beverages located on shelf by food preparation sink and sitting on the food slicer.

The Depot520 Railroad Ave., Dolores

date: Nov. 8

priority violations: 1

1. Proper cold holding category

inspector Comments: Observed cooked/cooled sausage crumbles at temperatures between 43 degrees and 45 degrees Fahrenheit in the refrigerated unit in the back. Sausage had been used for breakfast and left out of temperature. Problem corrected during inspection.

priority foundations violations: 1

1. Procedures for vomiting and diarrheal events.

inspector comments: Facility did not have a written policy in place. Problem corrected during inspection.

core violations: 1

1. Approved thawing methods category.

inspector comments: Observed frozen fries being slacked at room temperature on the counter. Observed raw hamburger being thawed at room temperature. Package of beef was at 46 degrees Fahrenheit. Product will be cooked today to 155 degrees Fahrenheit.

Cortez Middle School450 W. Second St., Cortez

date: Nov. 14

priority violations: 0

priority Foundation violations: 0

core violations: 0

La Casita de Cortez332 E. Main St., Cortez

date: Nov. 13

priority violations: 2

1. Hands cleaned, washed category

inspector comments: Observed employee coming to work and putting on a clean apron and then washing hands at hand sink. Problem corrected during inspection.

2. Food contact surfaces category.

inspector comments: Cutting board was not sanitized prior to having a raw food product (beef) and then when a cooked product (beef) was cut on its surface. Problem corrected during inspection.

priority foundation violations: 2

1. Demonstrates knowledge category.

inspector comments: The person in charge shall demonstrate knowledge by complying with the code by having no violations of priority items during the current inspection. Problem corrected during inspection.

2. Proper date marking category.

inspector comments: Foods made in the facility are not being dated. Problem corrected during inspection.

core violations: 1

1. Gloves used properly category.

inspector comments: Observed employee washing gloves at the hand sink.

City Market No. 8508 E. Main St., Cortez

date: Nov. 13

priority violations: 0

priority foundation violations: 0

core violations: 1

1. Materials for construction and repair category.

inspector Comments: Observed yellow tape marking the use of a sink for chicken products. Tape is not smooth and cleanable.

The Wigglin Pig44 W. Main St., Cortez

date: Nov. 12

priority violations: 0

priority foundation violations: 1

1. Date marking category

inspector comments: Facility is not correctly dating foods removed from the freezer and placed in cold hold. Problem corrected during inspection.

core violations: 3

1. Certified food protection manager category.

inspector comments: Facility does not have current certification.

2. Hand-washing signage category

inspector comments: Hand sinks in the kitchen do not have signage.

3. Utensils properly stored category.

inspector comments: Observed tongs being stored in a container in the steam table. Tongs not stored in food.

Dove Creek Superette445 U.S. Highway 491, Dove Creek

date: Nov. 21

priority violations: 1

1. Hands properly cleaned category.

inspector comments: Not using the correct procedure when washing hands. Problem corrected during inspection.

priority foundation violations: 2

1. Demonstrates knowledge category.

inspector Comments: The person in charge shall demonstrate this knowledge by complying with this code by having no violations of priority violations during the current inspection. Problem corrected during inspection.

2. Toxic substances properly identified, stored category.

inspector comments: Spray bottle storing a purple cleaner is not labeled. Problem corrected during inspection.

core violations: 0

Tequila’s 1740 E Main St. Unit 1, Cortez

date: Nov. 25

priority violations: 0

priority foundation violations: 0

core violations: 0

Ponderosa Restaurant and Lounge108 S. Eighth St., Dolores

date: Nov. 25

priority violations: 2

1. Hands properly washed category.

inspector comments: Observed employee cracking eggs and not washing hands prior to changing duties. Problem corrected during inspection.

2. Preventing contamination from hands category.

inspector comments: Observed bare hand contact with ready-to-eat foods (lettuce, tomatoes, toast) Problem corrected during inspection.

priority foundation violations: 2

1. Demonstrates knowledge category.

inspector comments: The person in charge shall demonstrate knowledge by complying with this code by having no violations of priority items during the current inspection. Problem corrected during inspection.

2. Proper date marking category.

inspector comments: Observed ready-to-eat foods with incorrect use by dates. Problem corrected during inspection.

core violations: 2

1. Certified food protection manager category.

inspector comments: Facility does not have a certified person on staff.

2. System maintained in good repair category.

inspector comments: Observed a leak on the compartment sink and on the dishwasher. This has resulted in turning water supply off and on to the hand sink.

The Ute Coffee Shop17 S. Broadway Ave., Cortez

date: Nov. 22

priority violations: 0

priority foundation violations: 0

core violations: 0

Millwood Junction101 Railroad Ave., Mancos

Date: Nov. 21

priority violations: 3

1. Hands properly cleaned category.

inspector comments: Not using correct procedure for washing hands. Observed employees turning off water faucet handle with clean hand instead of using a towel used for drying the hands. Problem corrected during inspection.

2. Preventing contamination from hands category.

inspector comments: Observed employee on hot line using bare hands to handle cooked French fries by placing on a plate. Observed lettuce, onions, tomatoes, cheese, and buns also being handled bare handed. Problem corrected during inspection.

3. Proper cold holding temperatures category.

inspector comments: Observed macaroni salad and potato salad stored in a container with ice as a coolant. Both products were 54 degrees and 56 degrees Fahrenheit. Problem corrected during inspection.

priority foundation violations: 2

1. Demonstrates knowledge category.

inspector comments: The person in charge shall demonstrate the knowledge by complying with this code by having no violations of priority items during the current inspection. Problem corrected during inspection.

2. Proper date marking category.

inspector comments: Cooked/cooled noodles in walk-in are not labeled with a date. Sliced lunch meats in refrigerated reach-in are not dated. Problem corrected during inspection.

core violations: 3

1. Certified food protection manager category.

inspector comments: Facility does not have a certified manager on staff.

2. Approved thawing methods category.

inspector comments: Observed raw chicken breasts that had been pulled from the freezer and sitting out a room temperature underneath table with slicer and ice cream machine.

3. Storage of food in contact with water category.

inspector comments: Observed oysters being stored in walk-in inside a bucket with ice that was now liquid. Problem corrected during inspection.