Over 100 dead roaches found at burger drive-in, Sacramento County inspections show

A Sacramento-area burger drive-in was shut down this week after inspectors found more than 100 dead roaches in the restaurant.

Another eight restaurants received yellow placards for improper food holding temperatures, cleanliness and food handler cards. One inspector found bread directly on a refrigerator rack at a Sacramento County coffee shop.

A yellow placard signals two or more major violations, according to the Sacramento County Food Inspection Guide. These are typically corrected or mitigated during the inspection.

A red placard signals “imminent danger to public health and safety” and suspends the health permit until violations are corrected. This could include, but is not limited to, major vermin contamination.

In contrast, a green placard means a restaurant passed the inspection.

The county conducts roughly 14,000 inspections a year, and 97% of all restaurants pass their inspections, spokesman Ken Casparis previously told The Bee. About 1% of inspections result in a closure.

Last week, health inspectors closed Super Taco Express on Jan. 23, but the restaurant reopened on Sunday.

Here are the Sacramento County food facility inspections for Jan. 25 through Wednesday, as of noon Friday:

If an inspection listed below needs clarification, business owners can email Sacramento Bee reporter Jacqueline Pinedo at jpinedo@sacbee.com. The Bee will publish weekly updates on health inspections across Sacramento County.

Health inspectors close Sacramento burger drive-in

Sno-White Burger, 5110 Auburn Blvd in Sacramento County’s Amber Park neighborhood, had 14 violations on Jan. 25.

German cockroaches were found in various locations of the burger restaurant. Over 100 dead roaches were found on the floor in the “food prep area, water heater, beneath cooking equipment, at all storage areas, inside front cabinets, server’s area, and behind the ice machine,” according to the report.

During the inspection, two roaches were seen running on the floor near a grease trap, after a bucket with lids was moved from the area, according to the report.

Additionally, restrooms lacked paper towels and hand soap, according to the report. Food safety managers’ certificates and food handler cards were not available during the inspection. There was also residue buildup in the soda machine nozzles. A pallet with black residue in a walk-in refrigerator was being used as a storage surface. Inspectors asked the restaurant to remove the pallet “and store food items on shelves as required.”

The restaurant had a re-inspection on Monday, then again on Tuesday, but has failed to pass.

The Sacramento Bee called the restaurant for comment Friday morning, but no one came to the phone.

Sacramento County restaurants cited for health violations

The following Sacramento County restaurants had violations the week of Jan. 25 through Jan. 31, resulting in a conditional pass.

Only the dates of violations are listed. Most restaurants fully pass reinspection within 72 hours. The reports are linked. For updates on individual restaurants, you can search the EMD website here.

Nena’s Mexican Restaurant, at 232 Jibboom St. in Sacramento, had 19 violations on Jan. 26.

Inspectors observed an employee handle dirty dishes with gloves, then proceed to handle a container of food. Food was held in improper holding temperatures, including chorizo, chicken breast and diced beef, according to the report.

Food safety certification and food handlers cards were not available on the day of the inspection. An “open cup beverage was stored on top of a two door prep cooler and paper towel dispenser on cook’s line,” according to the inspection report. “Significant slime accumulation” was observed by inspectors on the ceiling of an ice machine.

Inspectors also observed “one old rat dropping in ice well” that contained liquor and syrup bottles. Inspectors observed improper thawing methods for cow intestines that were in stagnant water, as well as cow feet that were in room temperature on drainboard of a two compartment food prep sink, according to the report. The report also stated that there was shredded cheese at room temperature that was placed on top of a microwave.

Won Won Seafood Market, 5121 Freeport Blvd. in Hollywood Park, had nine violations on Jan. 26.

Inspectors observed door handles with food debris. Additionally, a fly zapper was placed above a fish tank, inspectors asked the restaurant to remove it and apply “appropriate pest control methods.” A cutting board on a prep station had “heavy staining,” according to the report.

AFG Restaurant Market, 2213 1/2 Del Paso Blvd. in the Old North Sacramento neighborhood, had 24 violations on Jan. 26.

During the inspection, the front counter hand sink was missing paper towels and hand soap. Potato wedges and raw chicken were at the incorrect holding temperatures, according to the report. The facility did not have a food manager certificate and food handlers card.

The ice machine had a blackish brown-looking residue on the inside, according to the report. On Friday inspectors observed “raw chicken containers stored over hot dogs in the walk in refrigerator,” and “hot sauce boxes stored on the floor in the side dry storage room.” Various to-go food containers were also being stored on the floor inside of a storage room, according to the inspection report.

Drip Espresso, 1004 24th St. in midtown, had 18 violations on Monday.

Inspectors observed an employee take a customer’s payment and then touch the point of sale system screen, according to the Monday report. The employee proceeded to wash her hands “but did not use soap or paper towels to dry her hands.”

The hand washing stations in the cafe prep area were missing paper towels on Monday during the inspection. Additionally, the restrooms were missing toilet paper, according to the report. Inspectors found bread lying directly in contact with the prep cooler shelves. The cafe was advised to wrap the bread or place it in a container to prevent contamination.

Charley’s Philly Steaks, 1689 Arden Way in the Arden Fair neighborhood, had 13 violations on Monday.

Inspectors observed the following foods outside of their proper holding temperatures during Monday’s inspection: one container of sliced Swiss cheese; one stack of sliced provolone; one container of precooked chicken; one container of shredded cheddar cheese.

A two-door cooler had ambient temperatures inside and was missing one of the two doors, according to the Monday report, inspectors requested the restaurant to repair the issue.

The Habit Burger, 8124 Delta Shores Circle in Meadowview, had seven violations on Monday.

Inspectors observed the following foods outside of their proper holding temperatures on Monday: raw bacon, chopped eggs, blue cheese, and diced tomatoes. The top panel of an ice machine had an undescribed residue, according to the report. A “white seasoning container on the storage shelf is missing a label,” according to the report.

NJoy Chinese Cafe, 7520 Elk Grove Blvd in Elk Grove, had eight violations on Wednesday.

The dishwasher was seen running with water at 0 ppm chlorine during Wednesday’s inspection. Inspectors also observed the barbecue pork and rice outside of their proper holding temperatures. Brown stains were seen on a “white plastic insert inside the ice machine,” according to the report.

Food items were also seen on the floor of a walk-in freezer on Wednesday. There was a “black mold-like substance accumulation on a fan guard inside” of the walk-in refrigerator.

Fulton Pho, 3100 Fulton Ave in Arden Arcade, had 16 violations on Tuesday.

A container with bean sprouts and sliced beef and two bags of bean sprouts were seen outside of their proper holding temperatures during Tuesday’s inspection. An employee was seen washing dishes without sanitizer, according to the report.

Employee’s drinks were seen without a lid on the food prep table during Tuesday’s inspection. Another employee was seen scratching their neck with the gloves they were using to “move food containers at cook’s area,” according to the report.

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