Live cockroach and rodent droppings: See latest Stanislaus County health inspections

Dominique Williams
·5 min read

A live cockroach was found at a pizza place in Newman and rodent droppings were seen at a Modesto doughnut shop during inspections conducted in late April and early May.

The majority of the 2,400 permitted food service establishments in the county receive two unannounced routine food safety inspections per year, according to the Department of Environmental Resources. The website says inspection reports are scanned weekly.

Food trucks that operate under a Stanislaus County Health Department permit are also inspected by the county, though those are scheduled and done at the department’s office.

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Of the 58 restaurant inspection reports sent to The Modesto Bee on Thursday, four were not updated on the site as of Friday morning.

If an inspection listed below needs clarification, business owners can email Modesto Bee reporter Dominique Williams at dwilliams@modbee.com.

Rodent droppings found at one restaurant with multiple violations

Violations were found during routine inspections of the following Stanislaus County food facilities during the week of April 29 - May 5. Only the dates of violations are listed.

The details of the reports do not indicate whether a restaurant passed or failed inspection. Corrective actions may have been made by the business by the time of publication.

The reports are linked. For updates on individual restaurants, search the DER website.

GK Mongolian BBQ, 2300 Monte Vista Ave. in Turlock, had three remaining violations during a second reinspection on April 29. Inspectors observed a scoop and strainer in the walk-in refrigerator on top of soiled soy sauce containers lids. Grease and food debris accumulation was noted on several food contact surfaces throughout the facility. A stainless steel pan was in the mop sink. Per the person in charge, the pan is used to fill up the mop bucket and is not used for food storage.

My Taco House, 3848 McHenry Ave. in Modesto, had four violations on April 30 — one of them major. The walk-in refrigerator was registering at 45 degrees and the temperatures of potentially hazardous foods within the fridge ranged from 39 to 43 degrees (fridge and food must be 41 degrees or lower). There was significant grease and oil accumulation on the hood filters along the main kitchen line. Pots and pans were observed in the hand wash sink basin. The soap dispenser at the hand wash sink in the employee restroom was empty.

Mountain Mike’s Pizza, 2101 Standiford Ave. Suite K in Modesto, had five violations on April 30 — one of them major. The salad bar cold holding unit was noted at 46 degrees (must be 41 degrees or lower). An accumulation of grime and food debris was spotted on the racks and the floor inside the walk-in refrigerator. The hand washing station faucet was loose and leaking. A dented food can was spotted in the dry storage area.

Javi’s Mexican Restaurant, 50 S. Del Puerto Ave. in Patterson, had three violations on May 1. The drink pistol and holder at the bar were soiled with grime. Cardboard boxes of vegetables were stored directly on the floor of the walk-in refrigerator. Food utensils were stored with the handles down (must be stored with the handles up to prevent contamination).

Dutch Bros, 901 N. Carpenter Road in Modesto, had three violations on May 1. There were no paper towels in several dispensers. The ice machine was not in operation and food handler cards were lacking.

Marcella’s Restaurant, 3507 Tully Road in Modesto, had 18 violations on May 2 — one of them major. The interior walls of the ice machine had an accumulation of dirt and grime. There was an accumulation of food debris and grime on the racks in the walk-in refrigerator and the walk-in freezer. The floor in the walk-in freezer was soiled with food debris and dirt. There was an accumulation of grease on the exhaust hood. The kitchen floor was soiled with food debris and dirt.

A sizable hole was spotted in the wall beneath the sink. There were broken floor tiles by the drain near the hand washing station and by the sink near the dishwasher. The freezer door gasket was worn out and the exterior wall of the walk-in refrigerator was damaged. The three-compartment sink faucet in the bar area was broken.

Food was stored in uncovered containers. The hand washing station was obstructed with a food container and a hose. The dishwasher did not have sanitizer. The reach-in refrigerator handles were made from raw, uncoated wood that has a non-smooth, and not easily cleanable surface. The food safety certification was expired and the food handler cards were not available.

Donut Deli, 1001 Kansas Ave. in Modesto, had three violations on May 2. Inspectors observed rodent droppings in a cabinet under the beverage dispenser. The caulking around both three-compartment sinks had mold buildup. The metal shelving in the bakery prep. area had heavy glazing accumulation.

Other food facilities with three or more, or major, violations at the time of their inspections include:

Live cockroach among violations that aren’t considered major

Pizza Plus, 1420 Main Street in Newman, had one violation on May 1. Inspectors observed a live cockroach in a sticky trap in a cabinet under the beverage dispenser.

According to Stanislaus County, other food facilities that had one to two violations, none of them major, are:

Some Stanislaus County food facilities had no violations

These food facilities had no violations, according to the county: