Greene Co. food inspections reveal mice, unsafe chicken storage

One Ash Grove restaurant fixed its ongoing mouse problem, but a separate inspection revealed the pests plagueing a Springfield nonprofit's kitchen. Another Springfield restaurant was cited for multiple violations regarding storage of chicken.

A second re-inspection of Lucky Star Chinese Restaurant in Ash Grove revealed the facility had handled its mouse problem and cleaned up the facility. However, officials found evidence of mice in the dry storage area of the Salvation Army kitchen in Springfield.

On Jan. 17, an investigator found that Popeye's at 3195 S. Campbell Ave. was thawing frozen chicken at room temperature and that there wasn't enough ice at a batter station to keep raw chicken at the proper temperature. Both violations were fixed on site: The raw chicken was discarded and more ice was added to the station, and employees were advised on how to properly thaw chicken.

Food inspections take place one to three times a year, depending on the type of food served, the population served, difficulty of food preparation and past history. Restaurants preparing food from raw ingredients are inspected more often "than convenience stores that serve only non-potentially hazardous foods, such as popcorn and soda," according to the Springfield-Greene County Health Department.

Issues found during inspection fall into either priority or non-priority violations. Priority violations impact the safety of the food, such as cross contamination between raw and ready-to-eat food, improper food temperature and poor personal hygiene and employee health. Multiple priority violations can lead to an establishment being shut down. Non-priority violations alone do not directly affect food safety, such as dirty floors, sticky tabletops or outside trash cans not being covered.

Here are more of the food inspections from this past week:

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Buffalo Wild Wings-Patton Springfield OPCO LLC, 900 E. Battlefield Road, Springfield. Jan. 17 routine inspection – Result: active. One priority violation: Observed food dicer being stored unclean on storage shelf. Dicer pulled from service to be properly cleaned. No non-priority violations.

Burger King, 3009 S. Campbell Ave., Springfield. Jan. 13 complaint inspection – Result: active. No violations were cited at time of inspection.

Fast-N-Friendly No. 9, 427 S. Glenstone Ave., Springfield. Jan. 13 re-inspection – Result: active. All foods being held at or above 135 degrees Fahrenheit. No violations noted during re-inspection.

Jose Locos, 935 N. Glenstone Ave., Springfield. Jan. 12 routine inspection – Result: active. No priority violations. One non-priority violation: Observed dumpster lids open on outside receptacle, education given that dumpster lids should remain closed.

Kentucky Fried Chicken, 215 E. Sunshine St., Springfield. Jan. 17 routine inspection – Result: active. Discussed: 1. Date Label any items that will held in facility over 24 hours 2. Fix floor drain needs to be in good repair. No priority violations. Two non-priority violations: 1. Observed women's toilet not flushing. Adjust/repair/replace and maintain. 2. Facility only had chlorine test strips on site, but quaternary ammonium sanitizer solution. Obtain proper test strips for sanitizer solution.

Kum & Go No. 1467, 2963 E. Division St., Springfield. Jan. 18 routine inspection – Result: active. No violations cited during inspection.

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Lindberg's, 318 W. Commercial St., Springfield. Jan. 17 routine inspection – Result: permitted with re-inspection. Three priority violations: Observed meat slicer not found clean, education given; observed spray nozzle in three-vat sink sits below rim of sink, education given; observed can opener not found clean, education given. Seven non-priority violations: Observed light above dishwashing station/dish storage unshielded, education given; observed ceiling tile above dishwashing station/dish storage open and in need of maintenance, education given; observed receptacle in women's restroom does not have cover, education given; observed bar floors not clean under ice machines and wells, education given; observed back door has visible gap in bottom, education given; observed single-use items found stored in manufacturer's packaging on the floor, education given; observed ceiling upstairs near freezer and single-use articles leaking and has obvious water damage, education given.

Lucky Star Chinese Restaurant, 200 E. Boone St., Ash Grove. Jan. 17 re-inspection – Result: active. The facility had been cleaned up and actions taken to minimize mice. Owner was encouraged to keep it this way. No violations cited during the inspection.

McDonald's 19907, 3250 E. Chestnut Expressway, Springfield. Springfield. Jan. 17 routine inspection – Result: active. No violations cited at time of inspection.

Megan's Bake Shop, 103 W. Old Mill Road, Fair Grove. Jan. 12 routine inspection – Result: active. One priority violation: Observed dented cans on ingredient shelf in the kitchen. Education was given and corrected on-site by voluntarily discarding cans. No non-priority violations.

Missouri Mike's BBQ & More, 1724 E. Battlefield Road, Springfield. Springfield. Jan. 17 routine inspection – Result: active. No violations cited at time of inspection.

Nawab's, 3654 S. Campbell Ave., Springfield. Springfield. Jan. 17 routine inspection – Result: active. Two priority violations: Observed employee drink and open drink can on food preparation table, employee's drinks required to have lid and straw; observed several potentially hazardous foods in the walk-in prepared 5 days prior were not date-marked with the 7-day discard date. No non-priority violations.

Pine Garden, 1725 W. Sunshine St., Springfield. Springfield. Jan. 18 routine inspection – Result: active. Discussed: 1. When not actively working with foods, put them back in cooler 2. Ice machine needs to be cleaned frequently enough to prevent mold build-up. 3. Cleaning throughout kitchen should occur frequently enough to prevent buildup of dirt and debris. Three priority violations: 1. Observed noodles in prep cooler at 52 degrees stored on top of bins. Employee stated they store small amounts on top. Discussed any items on top of bins in top of prep cooler will not hold 41 degrees or below. Noodles voluntarily discarded and employee made space in top of prep cooler for bin. 2. Observed cashew sauce stored on oven at 120 degrees, no flame under sauce. Employee voluntarily discarded, and discussed keeping flame on at all times for items that will be hot held on stove. 3. Observed several potentially hazardous foods at room temperature without being marked for time as a control. Discussed that items on time as a control must be marked as soon as they leave temperature control. Any items used on time as a control cannot be saved or reused for any reason. Items correctly marked for time as a control.

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Popeye's No. 780 - HZ Ops Holdings Inc., 3195 S. Campbell Ave., Springfield. Springfield. Jan. 17 routine inspection – Result: permitted with re-inspection. Four priority violations: 1. Observed raw ghost pepper chicken and raw chicken in pans sitting on top of ice batch batter station at 58 to 61 degrees. Full pan of ghost pepper chicken and quarter pan of chicken voluntarily discarded. Batter station was re-iced immediately. Corrected on-site. 2. Observed tall reach-in cooler holding bag of shredded cheese at 54 degrees. Cheese voluntarily discarded. 3. Observed quat solution over 400 parts per million at three-vat sink station. Corrected by adding water. Manager agrees to call chemical company. 4. Observed several pans and lids on air-drying rack soiled with grease and or food debris. Items re-washed, rinsed and sanitized. Five non-priority violations: 1. Observed hand sink and steam table on south wall are leaking, mop sink faucet is leaking. Repair. 2. Observed floor covering under fryers is in poor repair, there is a large hole where grease is accumulating and spreading under the floor covering. The floor in the walk-in freezer is buckled at panel seams, water and food debris can collect beneath. Repair. 3. Observed six boxes of chicken thawing on prep table in boxes in dish room. Thaw potentially hazardous foods under refrigeration 41 degrees or below, completely submerged under running water at 70 degrees or below, or as part of the cooking process. Corrected by placing chicken in walk-in cooler; chicken was still frozen. 4. Observed heavy build-up of grease and debris on vent hood filters and frames over fryers as well as vent hood walls. 5. Observed build-up of grease and food debris under fryers and throughout kitchen floor. Increase cleaning frequency.

Popeye's No. 780 - HZ Ops Holdings Inc., 3195 S. Campbell Ave., Springfield. Springfield. Jan. 18 re-inspection – Result: risk control. Risk control plan issued for sanitizer strength and dirty food contact surfaces. Priority items corrected from routine inspection Jan. 17: 1. Tall reach-in cooler at 40 degrees. 2. Chicken on ice bath at batter dip station at 35 to 40 degrees. Core items corrected: 1. Mop sink, hand sink and steam table leaks were repaired. 2. Vent hood filters have been cleaned (vent hood cleaning will be scheduled). One priority violation: Observed sanitizer at three-vat sink and sanitizer buckets over 400 ppm quat. Corrected by remaking and adding water. The auto-dispense system is dispensing too much chemical, water must be added to dilute until repair company arrives. Corrected on-site. Repeat, risk control plan issued. Two non-priority violations: 1. Observed floor under fryers has a large tear and subfloor is collecting grease; floor in walk-in freezer is buckled and food debris can collect beneath the buckle. Floor surfaces need to be smooth and easily cleanable. Correct by July 17. 2. Vent hood frame has grease build up. Manager agrees to schedule cleaning. (Vent hood filters have been cleaned.) Correct by next routine inspection.

Residence Inn, 1303 E. Kingsley St., Springfield. Jan. 13 routine inspection – Result: active. No violations observed.

Salvation Army Kitchen, 1707 W. Chestnut Expressway, Springfield. Jan. 19 routine inspection – Result: permitted with re-inspection. One priority violation: Observed evidence of mice in dry storage area. Please clean up area and take actions to minimize mice. A re-inspection will be made on or after Jan. 26 to check for compliance. One non-priority violation: Observed the area around ceiling vents was not clean.

Schlotzky's, 1316 N. Glenstone Ave., Springfield. Jan. 17 routine inspection – Result: active. No priority violations. Three non-priority violations: Observed tiles throughout the kitchen that have come off partially or completely, (repeat); observed missing tiles near the water heater; observed small hole/gap on back exterior door in dry storage area (repeat).

Still Ron's Last Call, LLC, 1310 E. Kearney St., Springfield. Jan. 13 routine inspection – Result: active. No violations cited at time of inspection.

Subway No. 33529, 102 W. Old Mill Road, Fair Grove. Jan. 12 routine inspection – Result: active. No violations observed at time of inspection.

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Team Taco, 1454 E. Cherry St., Springfield. Jan. 18 routine inspection – Result: active. No violations cited at time of inspection.

Van Gogh's Eeterie, 334 E. Commercial St., Springfield. Jan. 17 routine inspection – Result: active. Two priority violations: Observed multiple food contact utensils stored not clean, education given and corrected on-site; observed multiple spatulas and other utensils found with chips, cracks and/or melted handles, education given and corrected on-site. Three non-priority violations: Observed quat sanitizer kits available all expired, education given; observed soda nozzles in front station and back station found not clean, education given; observed pest control devices need to be changed out, education given.

Walmart Neighborhood Market No. 2839 Retail, 444 W. Grand St., Springfield. Jan. 12 complaint inspection – Result: active. No violations observed at time of inspection.