Improperly stored raw chicken, expired food among latest violations at metro Phoenix restaurants

Maricopa County health inspectors cited three restaurants for 13 health violations during the week of April 12. The violations ranged from expired soup, sausage and ranch dressing to a clogged drain that overflowed water under a three-compartment sink.

A priority violation is a major violation that directly contributes to an increased risk of foodborne illness or injury. If listed in inspection reports, remedies implemented during the inspection are noted.

During the week of April 12, inspectors visited more than 1,260 restaurants along with other food-serving facilities in hospitals, senior homes and schools. More than 215 restaurants received an "A" rating. See a sampling of the many restaurants that inspectors graded "A" at the end of this article.

5 violations

Zipps Sports Grill, 1860 E . Warner Road, Tempe

• A cook handled raw chicken, removed gloves, and began to handle clean food without washing their hands. A prep employee picked trash up off the ground and then handled ready-to-eat foods without washing their hands. Both employees were told to wash their hands.
• Raw chicken was stored above veggie patties in the prep cooler. The person in charge moved all raw animal proteins below ready-to-eat foods and organized raw animal proteins by cooking temperature. This was the second consecutive violation.
• Cooked pizza sauce in a large, deep pan was in the walk-in cooler at 49F-50F. The person in charge said the sauce was made the day before. Inspectors discussed proper cooling methods with the person in charge. All items should cool in uncovered, shallow pans in the walk-in cooler by using an ice bath or another effective means.
• Various cheeses, including provolone and cheddar, were on the prep line at 49F-50F. The person in charge said the items were placed in the prep cooler less than four hours prior to inspection. The person in charge relocated the cheeses to the walk-in cooler to rapidly cool. This was the third consecutive violation.
• The following items were in the walk-in cooler: cooked soup with a discard date of April 4, cooked sausage with a discard date of April 7 and cooked soup without any date marking. The person in charge was unsure of when the soup was prepared. All the items were discarded.

4 violations

Harbor Seafood Cajun House & Asian Cuisine, 2711 S. Alma School Road, Mesa

• A cook was twice observed washing his hands and lathering for less than 10 seconds. Inspectors instructed him about proper handwashing technique.
• Raw shell eggs were in the walk-in cooler above cooked chicken, and cooked chicken was in boxes that previously held raw chicken or raw egg. The cooked chicken was heated to above 165F and put into the walk-in cooler to cool.
• A butane torch was on the cook line with other foods. The torch was removed.
• A floor drain below the three-compartment sink was backing up onto the floor when water from the three-compartment sink was emptied. The floor drain grate sieve was heavily soiled. An employee began cleaning it outside the back door with waste water that was disposed onto the ground. The employee was told to use the mop sink for this. The drain under the sink operated properly once the grate was cleaned.

4 violations

Sauce Pizza and Wine, 3426 E. Baseline Road, Mesa

• The chlorine in the on-site automatic dishwasher measured 0 parts per million. The person in charge made a service call and recommended using the three-compartment sink to wash dishes and pots and pans in the meantime.
• Pans of shredded, cooked chicken and soft cheese were at  53F-55F in the reach-in coolers on the cookline. Their lids were left open and they were overfilled. All the food was discarded.
• Inspectors observed ranch dressing buckets that were prepared on site and dated March 29.  The manager threw away ranch dressing buckets.
• A spray bottle filled with degreaser was above food pans, mixer equipment and to-go containers. The manager removed and discarded the chemicals.

Look 'em up: Check your favorite dining spots in The Republic's new restaurant inspection database

Grade A restaurants

Phoenix

• Pitic Restaurant, 1580 E. Pima St.
• Mariscos la Phoenikera, 2915 N. 43rd Ave.
• Ava Bakery, 814 E. Union Hills Drive
• Tortoise Tea House, 2412 E. Greenway Road
• Burger Shoppe, 151 N. 27th Ave.

Scottsdale

• Samurai Sam's, 10105 E. Via Linda
• Habanero's Mexican Grill & Cantina, 10392 N. Scottsdale Road
• Spectrum Cafe, 6720 N. Scottsdale Road
• Best Life Nutrition, 4158 N. Goldwater Blvd.
• House of Yang, 13802 N. Scottsdale Road

East Valley

• El Metate, 2115 E .Southern Ave, Mesa
• Chutney's Indian Cuisine,1801 E. Baseline Road, Tempe
• Taqueria Factory, 55 E. Ray Road, Chandler
• Zappone's Italian Bistro, 1652 N. Higley Road, Gilbert
• Babbo Italian Eatery, 18521 E. Queen Creek Road, Queen Creek

West Valley

• I & J Fountain Restaurant, 12221 W. Bell Road, Surprise
• Tamales Guadalajara, 9356 W. Van Buren St, Tolleson
• The Spicery, 7141 N. 59th Ave, Glendale
• Cafe Rio, 9550 W. Indian School Road, Buckeye
• Cristinas Restaurant, 10665 W. Indian School Road, Avondale

Source: Maricopa County Environmental Services

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This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Improperly stored raw chicken, expired food among latest violations at metro Phoenix restaurants