Health district cites Shelton eatery for violation

SHELTON — One eatery received priority violations during health inspections performed by the Naugatuck Valley Health District in May, the second full month under the state’s new inspection system.

Last month, five eateries were inspected, with Pier 131 Kitchen & Bar receiving three priority violations on their health inspections, according to health department records. Those are the most critical violations, health officials say, and must be corrected within 72 hours.

Health district records show each of the violations was corrected during the inspection.

Owner Artan Ismaili did not reply to requests for comment.

Also inspected in May were Los Mariachis on Wheels, Shop Rite Shelton on Bridgeport Avenue, Red Diamond Pizza Truck and Ansonia-based Dad’s Cannoli Truck. Records show none of these eateries had any priority violations.

April was the first full month of using the new FDA Food Code, and everyone, from inspectors to eatery operators, is working to meet all the new requirements.

The state, in 2017, began adoption of the new requirements which would replace the Connecticut Public Health Code food safety inspections. The new rules were to be adopted in 2019.

Delays — mainly due to the pandemic — pushed the adoption date to what at the time was an unknown. That was until Feb. 9, when health directors statewide were told the new rules go in effect Feb. 17.

The new rules keep the main components of food safety and best practices, but now all food establishments are required to register with the state Department of Health before a license is issued or renewed by the Trumbull Health Department.

The new system does not provide a

“pass or fail” grade or number score. Violations cited during inspections will be categorized as “priority,” “priority foundation,” and “core.” Those with “priority” violations must be reinspected within 72 hours, “priority foundation” in 10 days, and “core” in 90 days from the initial inspection.

Pier 131 Kitchen & Bar had three priority item violations during its inspection on May 18, reports show. They were for chicken stored over beef in the walk-in cooler, having dented cans in dry storage, and Febreeze and Advil stored with food in the office dry storage. All were corrected with the inspector on scene, according to the NVHD report.