Wastewater in the kitchen: Latest Merced County health inspections
One Merced County business evaluated by inspectors from the county Division of Environmental Health received an “unsatisfactory” grade during the latest round of inspections from Jan. 14-28.
Of the latest businesses to be evaluated, four received a rating of “good” and two received a rating of “satisfactory.”
What the ratings mean
Businesses that accumulate zero to six violation points during an inspection receive a “good” rating. A rating of “satisfactory” is given to businesses that accumulate seven to 13 points. Businesses that accumulate 14 points or more receive an “unsatisfactory” rating.
Violations recorded by inspectors can range in severity from minor to major. Major violations are “very likely to get people sick” and must be corrected immediately or the business, or parts of the business, must close until the issue is corrected, according to the Division of Environmental Health. If a business fails an inspection, a reinspection is required at a later date.
The Division of Environmental Health said a minor violation is one “likely to get people sick but does not require the location to close.”
Details from ‘Unsatisfactory’ reports
Here is a look at the “unsatisfactory” report from from Jan. 14-28.
Applebee’s, 1734 W. Olive Ave., Merced
Applebee’s received an “unsatisfactory” rating (16 points) during an inspection Jan. 26, 2026. Here are the violations as observed by the health inspector:
- Observed the accumulation of water on the floor in the bar. Increase cleaning frequency to prevent an accumulation of water. (Repeat violation)
- Observed the temperature of the coleslaw, macaroni, cooked rice, and cheese measured 55 degrees or above on the north section of the refrigerator. Foods were voluntarily discarded. Do not use the refrigerator until it is shown to maintain temperatures at or below 41 degrees. (Repeat)
- Observed missing tiles in the kitchen resulting in the accumulation of wastewater on the floor. Repair flooring to allow proper cleaning. (Second repeat)
Businesses that received ‘Good’ ratings
- Veterans Service Solutions LLC900, Martin Luther King Jr. Way, Merced
- El Pollo Bragado, 6592 N. Winton Way, Winton
- Mountain Mike’s Pizza, 1348 W. Olive Ave., Merced
- Mountain Mike’s Pizza, 1950 Yosemite Parkway Suite J, Merced
Next steps for Merced businesses
According to the Division of Environmental Health, some problems found by inspectors can be fixed at the time of the inspection. In other instances, violations an inspector deems more serious may result in the closure of the business at the time of the inspection.
The inspections represent a snapshot of the conditions that were observed by health inspectors at the time of their visit and may not indicate a pattern of either good or bad safety practices.
The Merced County Division of Environmental Health maintains a database of restaurant and food inspections, which can be found online at the Merced County Environmental Health website.
