The Middletown Press (Middletown, CT)
Six facilities fail food inspections
All pass reinspection
NORTHBRANFORD— Six restaurants or businesses that serve food failed inspections by the East Shore District Health Department in the first half of the year.
All six passed when department sanitarians reinspected them. The businesses that failed initial inspection were Capone’s Pizza Bar, 2400 Foxon Road; Exxon, operated by North Branford Gas, 1645 Foxon Road; Giovanni’s Pizzeria & Ristorante, 855 Forest Road, Northford; Great Wall Chinese, 280 Branford Road; Lucky Chinese, 855 Forest Road, Northford; and Subway, operated by Super Subs of Northford, 847 Forest Road.
A business that serves food to the public must score at least 80 of 100 points to pass. However, the business automatically fails if it receives a fourpoint violation, which often involve food temperature or hygiene issues and are most likely to foster bacteria.
Michael Pascucilla, health director for the East Shore District, which covers Branford, East Haven and North Branford, said foodservice businesses tend to fail more in the heat of summer. “In the summer months, the temperatures in the kitchen heat up,” he said. “Some of those kitchens … they could be close to 100 degrees or in some cases more.”
That puts stress on the coolers and refrigerators. “When they’re under this extra pressure, the equipment tends to fail, so it’s not uncommon we see more failed inspections this time of year,” Pascucilla said. Also, food left out tends to warm up more quickly, he said, risking bacterial growth. As for dirty equipment or facilities, that’s simply a management issue, he said.
The New Haven Register reported in March that the East Shore District Health Department had fallen behind in its inspections, partly because of a transition to new U.S. Food and Drug Administration rules. Pascucilla said thisweek that one staff member had been out on medical leave but had returned and that he has a fourth inspector position budgeted for this fiscal year, which began July 1.“We’re in the process of going through union negotiations” to hire the entrylevel sanitarian, Pascucilla said. “I’m confident we’ll hire someone.”
Capone’s Pizza Bar
On its first inspection Feb. 13, Capone’s scored an 80, but failed because of a fourpoint violation concerning food temperature. Meatballs were found to be 127 degrees and were discarded. Ground meat must test at 145 degrees after three minutes, according to state requirements.
There also were no visible food thermometers or thermometers were broken, there was a “greasy” hood vent, unlabeled squeeze bottles, a “gouged and dirty” cutting board, an employee notwearing a hair restraint, unwrapped straws and the hotwater in the restroom tested at 153 degrees, higher than the 115degree maximum. When the restaurant was reinspected on Feb. 28, it passed with a 90 score. Owner Nicholas Capone could not be reached for comment.
Giovanni’s Pizzeria
The restaurant, also known as Giovanni’s Best, is located, along with Lucky Chinese, in the Northford Center shopping plaza. It failed its first inspection April 27 with a score of 69, including two fourpoint violations. One of the most serious violations was for a dented food can. The other, which had two parts, was for cold food stored at too high a temperature— sausage tested at 50 degrees, 9 degrees above the standard— and an inadequate menu advisory.
Other demerits at Giovanni’s included a lack of sanitizer in the dishwasher, a dirty hand sink, no soap or paper towels at workers’ handwashing sinks, dirty water in a mop bucket, unlabeled bottles of “food substance” next to the sink, a dirty refrigerator interior and wiping cloths not stored in sanitizer buckets. Also, food was stored on the cooler floor and mozzarella cheese was left uncovered in the freezer. When Giovanni’s was reinspected May 11, it received a score of 100.
The restaurant’s owner is listed as Guadalupe Reyes. Amanager said on the phone that the inspection “had nothing to do with food, it was stupid stuff,” then said he had no comment and hung up.
Great Wall Chinese Restaurant
On its first inspection June 18, the restaurant scored 87, but failed because of one fourpoint violation: several cold foods were stored at higher than the required 41 degrees (sweet and sour chicken was at 54 degrees) or not kept hot enough (spare ribs at 109, below the required 135). Other violations included no soap at the hand sink, an exposed open bag of rice, and rusty, dirty or worn shelves. A sanitarian reinspected Great Wall on June 28, when the restaurant passed with a score of 87. Owner Dan Chen could not be reached for comment.
Lucky Chinese Restaurant
Lucky failed its April 4 inspection with a 78 score and one fourpoint violation. Several food items were stored at higher temperatures than required, including chicken, pork, egg rolls and ribs. The inspector also cited a dirty floor and kitchen walls and an unclean can opener blade and holster and knife rack, foods left out at room temperature and unlabeled food bins. Lucky was reinspected on April 25 and passed with a 97 score. Owner Qun Lin could not be reached for comment.
North Branford Gas (Exxon)
The Exxon station was inspected April 19 and failed with a score of 79 and two fourpoint violations: cleaning agents and insecticide stored together and milk with a sellby date of April 18. Other problems included no soap at the handwashing station, ice buildup in refrigerators and freezers, dirty sinks, shelving and racks, water and beverages stored on the floor and too hot water in the restroom (126 degrees compared with a maximum115).
The Exxon station passed reinspection April 30 with a score of 90, but with a note: “Dumpster area filthy.” The owners are listed as Jay, Ravi and Kuntal Patel. Amessage left for Jay Patel at the number listed was not returned.
Super Subs of Northford (Subway)
The Subway franchise scored a 91 at its March 12 inspection, but failed because of a fourpoint violation: shaved steak and cut tomatoes stored at too high a temperature (56 degrees in the case of the steak). Also, a worker was notwearing a hair restraint, ceiling tiles were missing over a walk in freezer, providing “vermin access,” no handwashing was observed after serving at least eight to 10 customers, although gloves were worn “diligently,” and therewas a dirty floor under a walkin cooler. On March 27, the Subway passed its reinspection with a score of 96. The owners are listed as Zubair, Nadim and Rana Muntaz.
Jennifer Durso, manager of the Northford Subway, said the restaurant failed March 12 because “they came in during a lunch hour, so our unit was open” and temperatures began to rise in the cooler. “We take temperatures twice a day like we’re supposed to,” she said.
“This inspector, he likes to rush. He comes in during a rush hour, he knows what he’s going to get,” Durso said. She said Subway’s own inspectors come in once a month and “they’re stricter than the health department.” Subway’s international headquarters is based in Milford.