Shelton eateries maintain top grades in latest health inspections

SHELTON — No city eateries failed health inspections in the past few months.

Only seven establishments among the more than 150 inspected in Shelton during that time earned below an A, according to Naugatuck Valley Health District records.

The NVHD, using an A, B, C and D rating system, inspects each establishment quarterly, and posts the results on its website.

In its most current rankings, the district graded some 150 food establishments with an A. There are seven which have a B in grades recorded in the past quarter.

According to the district, the following eateries earned a B: J.C.’s Sports Bar & Grill, inspected Jan. 25; Common Ground, inspected Oct. 26; Piccolo’s Sunnyside Deli, inspected Oct. 25; Shelton Pizza Palace, inspected Dec. 6; Adams IGA Supermarket, inspected Oct. 20; Baingan, inspected Dec. 8; and Domino’s, inspected Jan. 18.

To earn an A rating, a food service establishment must have an inspection score of 93 to 100 with no critical four-point violations and not more than one risk-factor violation.

Critical violations include lack of hand washing facilities, food held at unsafe temperatures, and improper storage of toxic items, such as cleaning supplies.

Risk factor violations, less serious than critical violations, can be anything from storing food containers on the floor to the presence of rodents on the premises.

The A rating also means that a qualified food operator, designated alternate or other knowledgeable and trained staff was on site at the time of inspection, records of training are available, accurate and up to date. Safe food handling practices and procedures also must be observed at the time of inspection and the facility needs to be found in compliance with the public health code.

A B rating means a food service establishment has an inspection score of 8692 with no critical fourpoint violations and no more than two risk-factor violations. The establishment needs to be free of major structural defects and exhibit safe food handling practices and procedures at the time of inspection. For this grade, the facility was found to be substantially in compliance with the public health code.

A C rating means a food service establishment has an inspection score of 8086 with no uncorrected critical four-point violations and no more than four risk factor violations. The establishment has conditions that need to be corrected, such as structural defects or other violations or unsafe food handling practices likely to cause food-borne illness.