Teriyaki spot closed for a day due to violations. Here are other Thurston food safety scores

Martín Bilbao
·5 min read

Comments are taken directly from the latest Thurston County Public Health and Social Services (PHSS) inspection reports, which are available for each food establishment, at the Thurston County Environmental Health Office and their website. For questions concerning these reports, contact the health office at 360-867-2667.

Report restaurant, grocery store, deli or bakery complaints online via the complaint form here: https://www.thurstoncountywa.gov/phss/Pages/eh-problem.aspx.

Reading inspection scores:

  • Attention should be given to the type of violation (red versus blue) and whether the establishment has a history of red violations or repeat violations.

  • Red violations are those most likely to cause food-borne illness and must be corrected immediately if feasible or according to a compliance schedule established by the health officer. Example: not keeping food at the right temperature.

  • Blue violations relate to the overall cleanliness and condition of operation and must be corrected according to a compliance schedule established by the health officer. Example: a worn floor that needs replacing.

  • If red points exceed 45, the county will require a reinspection within 10 business days. A reinspection also is required if total red and blue points exceed 65.

  • If red points exceed 100 and there’s a lack of managerial control, the county will shut down the establishment for at least 72 hours. The establishment may reopen after management and employees complete retraining and demonstrate corrective action during a reinspection.

  • Some common abbreviations: PHF/TCS is potentially hazardous food/time control for safety; RTE is ready to eat; PIC is person in charge; FWC is food worker card; CDI is corrected during inspection.

Yukio’s Teriyaki

3520 Pacific Ave. SE, Olympia

March 13: 110 red points; 0 blue points.

Thurston County Public Health and Social Services’ Food and Environmental Services staff immediately closed Yukio’s Teriyaki at 1:15 p.m. March 13 because its violations “constituted an imminent health hazard” to the public, PHSS spokesperson Renae Miller said in a statement.

The establishment worked with county staff to address all concerns and it reopened the following morning, Miller said.

When reached for comment, the person in charge at Yukio’s Teriyaki acknowledged the short closure but declined to comment on it.

Comments:

  • The PIC did not demonstrate active managerial control of risk factors. The PIC was directed to take a course to obtain food safety knowledge.

  • Food workers did not present their Washington food worker cards during the inspection.

  • A food worker changed tasks but did not remove their gloves and properly wash their hands before returning to food preparation. Corrected during the inspection.

  • Raw whole shell eggs were stored above ready-to-eat foods in a two-door reach-in. Raw animal proteins must be stored below and away from ready-to-eat-foods. Corrected during inspection.

  • Whole shell eggs were stored at room temperature. TCS foods must be maintained under temperature control or according to a written time as a control plan. Corrected during inspection.

  • The facility noncontinuously cooked chicken without a required written procedure for the process. The inspector directed them to provide a written procedure to cease noncontinuous cooking.

La Patrona

5409 Capitol Blvd. SE, Tumwater

March 15: 65 red points; 8 blue points.

Comments:

  • Cooked rice was hot held at 117-120 degrees rather than at or above 135 degrees as required.

  • Salsa on the counter was measured at 50 degrees. TCS foods must use temperature control or time as a public health control with a written procedure.

  • Chopped lettuce was measured at 45-50 degrees rather than at or below 41 degrees.

  • The menu lacked a proper consumer advisory for made-to-order animal proteins. The establishment was directed to include a disclosure statement on its menus and place reminders next to made-to-order foods.

  • Meat was observed thawing in standing water in a bucket on the counter. Thawing must be done under refrigeration or under cool, running water.

  • There was a visible mold-like substance inside an ice machine.

Meconi’s Italian Subs

2527 Marvin Road NE, Lacey

March 11: 20 red points; 10 blue points.

Comments:

  • Various TCS foods were cold held at above 41 degrees rather than at or below 41 degrees.

  • The facility had no written plan for using time as a public health control.

  • The dishwasher had a sanitizing temperature of 152 degrees. The sanitizing temperature should be greater than 160 degrees.

  • A deli slicer had visible food debris.

Curry Corner

9408 Martin Way E., Olympia

March 12: 20 red points; 0 blue points.

Comments:

  • An in-use chlorine sanitizer solution was too strong as prepared. The PIC remade the solution and verified its concentration with a test strip.

  • The facility was making yogurt without a variance or approved plan. The facility was fermenting at room temperature. TCS foods fermenting at room temperature that don’t meet temperature requirements must have a variance.

Dutch Bros Coffee

8229 Martin Way E., Lacey

March 13: 5 red points; 0 blue points.

Comments:

  • An employee had an invalid food worker card.

Wendy’s

2427 Harrison Ave. NW, Olympia

March 13: 5 blue points; 0 blue points.

Comments:

  • An employee had a food worker card from an unapproved vendor. Another employee was unable to present a food worker card.

MOD Super Fast Pizza

400 Cooper Point Road SW, Olympia

March 13: 5 red points; 0 blue points.

Comments:

  • Two employees had unacceptable expired, invalid or missing food worker cards.

7-Eleven

2425 Marvin Road NE, Lacey

March 11: 0 red points; 5 blue points.

Comments:

  • A sanitizing solution had not been made at the time of inspection.

No violations

  • AFC Sushi at Safeway, 4280 Martin Way E.

  • Arco AM/PM Lacey, 402 Sleater Kinney Road SE, Lacey

  • Arco AM/PM, Deli, Grocery/Convenience Store, 2601 Yelm Highway SE, Olympia

  • Heritage Meats, Meat Market, 18241 Pendleton St. SW, Rochester

  • Safeway, Grocery Stores and Confectioneries, Meat Market, Bakery, Coffee Shop, 4280 Martin Way E.

  • 7-Eleven, Grocery Stores and Confectioneries, 2425 Marvin Road NE, Lacey