The Rappahannock Regional Health District recorded violations at several establishments around Fredericksburg during recent restaurant inspections.
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FREDERICKSBURG, Va. — Several facilities in the Fredericksburg area recorded violations during recent inspections from the Rappahannock Regional Health District. Inspectors conducted their most recent visit between March 7th and March 14th.
In Virginia, all food and beverage establishments are required to be inspected at least once a year. According to the Virginia Department of Health, facilities with high risk factors may be inspected as many as four times a year.
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Restaurant violations typically focus on factors that can contribute to food contamination. Local health departments can also conduct re-inspections to ensure potential violations have been corrected. In some cases, follow-up inspections may only consider the most significant “priority” violations.
For each violation observed, the inspector will provide specific corrective actions that can be taken to correct the violation. These may be simple and violations may be correctable during the inspection.
Depending on the test results, the health department can take several actions.
Issue permits for restaurants to continue serving food, schedule follow-up inspections to see if violations have been corrected, or temporarily close establishments until authorities resolve certain issues be able to.
The Virginia Department of Health recommends suspending a restaurant's license only if “the continued operation of the restaurant poses a serious and imminent threat to public health.”
Recent violations listed by the Rappahannock Regional Health Department include:
Red Club, 1801 Carl D. Silver Parkway Fredericksburg, VA 22401
Inspection date: March 13, 2024
Total violations: 9
- Numerous open-top employee drinks were seen throughout the kitchen.
- I observed a bowl sitting in one of the sinks in the kitchen.
- It was observed that the top of the ice machine needed a thorough cleaning and black mold-like growth/stains were observed.
- The following foods were found kept cold at temperatures of 60 degrees Fahrenheit. 1. Raw shrimp 2. Cooked crab 3. Boiled egg. Food was transferred to a walk-in freezer for rapid cooling.
- An unlabeled cleaning spray bottle was observed in the reception/bar area.
- Inadequate thawing of fish was observed. Fish were observed thawing in a container of water. A knife was observed stored between the preparation table and equipment on the cooking line.
- The following non-food contact surfaces require cleaning: 1. Racks holding food in walk-in coolers 2. Sides of equipment in front and back of kitchen area
- I observed a drain in the back kitchen wall and floor that needed cleaning.
- Observed employees' personal items (coffee creamer, cough medicine, drinks) throughout the kitchen.
Tapa Rio, 1101 Sophia Street Fredericksburg, VA 22401
Inspection date: March 12, 2024
Total violations: 15
- Food employees were observed twice lathering their hands under running water. Hands were not washed effectively as hand soap was flushed down the drain. Employees were instructed to wash their hands again.
- Hot water was observed to be less than 100 degrees Fahrenheit in the hand wash sink in the cooking line (85 degrees Fahrenheit) and in the men's restroom room (72 degrees Fahrenheit).
- The food contact surfaces of the meat slicer were observed to be dirty. Clean and disinfect the meat slicer before next use.
- It was observed that the low temperature dishwasher in use was not properly sanitizing food contact equipment.
- Food Employee's boneless chicken is partially cooked to approximately 130 degrees F and cooled to complete the final cooking process to the customer's order. Officials were unable to provide written procedures and the health department was not informed of the procedures.
- We observed the following TCS food items being refrigerated overnight at incorrect temperatures in the cooler in the 2-door reach: 6 to 8 bags of shredded mozzarella cheese (44 to 46 degrees Fahrenheit) and oversized. Portion pasta containers (43-44 degrees Fahrenheit).
- It was observed that the reach inside the cooler was full of product or product was stacked on top of one another. The person in charge voluntarily disposed of the food.
- Observed multiple chemical spray bottles without labels. Directed personnel to labels that were not completed at the time of inspection.
- We observed cooked mussels and raw salmon thawed in reduced oxygen packaging (ROP). Personnel discarded the food during the inspection.
- The following was observed due to poor repair: burnt out lights under the hood, TCS food not properly insulated by the cooler's two door reaches, and ice buildup on the back of prep cooler #2.
- Debris accumulation was observed on the following non-food contact surfaces: floor fan by cooking line, top of dishwasher, inside of fryer cabinet, pizza oven including plumbing.
- We found that the door to the men's restroom was not sealed properly.
- It was observed that there were no containers with lids in the women's toilet room.
- The presence of unused equipment was observed on the premises, including the rear storage area.
- Patio seating without overhead protection was observed during the service of meals to guests.
Potbelly Sandwich Shop, 1240 Carl D. Silver Pkwy. Fredericksburg, VA 22401
Inspection date: March 11, 2024
Total violations: 4
- A container containing clean utensils (above a three-compartment sink) was observed with the food-contact side facing up.
- The cutting board at the prep station was observed to be dirty and scratched.
- It was found that the non-food contact surfaces of the cooling cooktop needed cleaning.
- I observed dark debris building up in the corners and edges of the stack of stainless steel sheet trays.
Arby's #7909, 9865 Patriot Highway Fredericksburg, VA 22408
Inspection date: March 12, 2024
Total violations: 5
- Observed hot shot pest control equipment under sink in 3 compartments. Insect control equipment was discarded during inspection.
- We have observed the following non-food contact surfaces need to be cleaned: 1. Inside of fryer cabinet 2. Lifts of both soda machines 3. Outside of all utensils 4. Shelving
- It was observed that a long hose was attached to the spray nozzle attached to the mop sink and did not have proper backflow protection. The mop sink came with a vacuum breaker, but requires a double check valve to maintain pressure. The spray nozzle was removed during the inspection.
- It was observed that the following physical equipment was in poor repair: 1. Missing floor tile under fryer 2. Hole in wall in dry storage area 3. Re-sealing around three compartment sink
- It was observed that floors, walls, and ceilings throughout the facility needed cleaning.
Peter Chang, LLC, 1771 Carl D. Silver Pkwy Fredericksburg, VA 22401
Inspection date: March 7, 2024
Total violations: 12
- Representatives were unable to provide employee health policy.
- Officials could not provide written instructions on how the facility would clean up body fluids.
- Food debris was observed in the hand sink adjacent to the cooking line.
- Observed raw meat stored on top of a box of broccoli in a walk-in cooler. During the inspection, officials directed food employees to move the broccoli.
- The same food employee was observed rewashing his gloves twice. I discussed the violation with the person in charge.
- Instead of exterminating pests as required by regulations, we observed traps (mouse traps) brought in by the facility.
- We observed raw shrimp thawing at room temperature.
- Evidence of and presence of pests observed within the facility. Feces were found on non-food contact surfaces, as well as debris and openings along the back entrance of the facility.
- We observed a large number of spoons being stored clean with the food contact side facing up.
- The following equipment was observed to be in poor repair: 1. Severely rusted shelves throughout the facility 2. Extensive ice accumulation in the freezer 3. Significant damage to the swing door leading to the kitchen 4. Significant damage to the doorway to the walk-in cooler
- Severe scratches, scratches, and stains were observed on the cutting boards at the prep station.
- Walls, floors and ceilings throughout the kitchen and side rooms need cleaning. Particularly dry storage areas and areas near deep freezers require thorough cleaning.
Vinny's Italian Grill & Pizzeria, 11105 Leavells Road Unit 1 Fredericksburg, VA 22407
Inspection date: March 7, 2024
Total violations: 22
- The representative failed to provide written evidence that the employee was aware of the employee health policy.
- The food facility does not have a written procedure for handling vomiting or diarrhea incidents that occur within the facility.
- Inadequate hand washing procedures were observed. The employee washed his hands within 10 seconds at the hand wash sink near the prep sink.
- Observed food employees washing dishes without washing their hands after handling dirty dishes. Employees were instructed to wash their hands.
- We observed food employees handling ready-to-eat bread, chicken, tomoato, and lettuce with their bare hands. The sandwich was discarded during inspection.
- Handwashing stations at the following locations do not have signs or posters reminding food workers to wash their hands: 1) Women's restroom, 2) Men's restroom, 3) Employee restroom in the kitchen, 4) Hand washing area next to the cooking sink.
- Observed raw shell eggs stored near ready-to-eat deli meats in a walk-in cooler. The eggs have been relocated.
- The flour for the chicken wings stored in the kitchen was not refrigerated, and after discussions with staff, it was confirmed that it was not sifted and was discarded approximately 10 hours after closing.
- This facility does not have a date marking system for time/temperature control (TCS) for food safety.
- Ready-to-eat commercial processed food in the walk-in cooler was not properly dated for disposal after opening.
- Observed a large stainless steel bowl without a lid containing cooked sausage (84 degrees Fahrenheit) stored near the sink. Food employees were unable to tell us how long the sausages reached 135 degrees Fahrenheit to ensure the food was properly cooled.
- The following was observed: 1) Raw hamburgers (34 degrees Fahrenheit) thawing at room temperature on the parp unit, 2) Reduced Oxygen Packaging (ROP) salmon in the walk-in refrigerator for 2 hours. It is observed that it is still frozen, although it has been thawed less than a year ago. Condition removed from ROP package. The salmon packaging had been cut open during the inspection.
- Observed food containers stored directly on the floor of the walk-in freezer and walk-in cooler.
- Observed employees preparing food in the back of the house without hair properly restrained.
- Observe boxes of disposable equipment stored on the floor in the dry storage area.
- Chlorine test kits available on-site to check the concentration of disinfectants used on food-contact surfaces expired in February 2023.
- The following non-food contact surfaces were found to have a build-up of dirt and debris. 1) Inside and outside of the cold storage unit, 2) Shelving units, 3) Inside the oven, 4) Light shield, and 5) Ice maker door.
- No backflow prevention device was found on the ice maker, which is directly connected to the main water supply line.
- The door to the employee toilet in the kitchen does not close automatically.
- Areas such as walk-in cooler floors, walk-in freezer floors, ceiling vents, ceiling tiles, floors, and walls throughout the facility were noted to require cleaning.
- I noticed that the ceiling above the ice machine in the dry storage area was absorbent, not smooth, and not easily cleaned.
- Observed employee personal items stored next to food and equipment throughout the facility.
No violations have been recorded at the following facilities:
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Five Guys, 1515 Stafford Market Place Suite #117 Stafford, VA 22556
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La Bella Pizza, 2601 Salem Church Road #109 Fredericksburg, VA 22407
