These Merced County food businesses failed October health inspections. What was found?
Most of the restaurants, markets and other food businesses visited by Merced County health inspectors in October passed muster with either “good” or “satisfactory” ratings, but two received “unsatisfactory” scores from their inspections — including one that failed its inspection for a second consecutive month.
The two businesses that received the unsatisfactory ratings were Quickly, a counter-service restaurant in Merced that serves bubble teas, snacks rice bowls and other items, and Liberty Market in Delhi.
Summaries of the violations found at the two businesses are:
- Liberty Market, 16385 W. Schendel Ave. in Delhi: An Oct. 23 inspection revealed that cooked beans prepared the prior night were stored in a meat walk-in refrigerator and measured at 51 degrees, which is above the safe temperature for storing potentially hazardous food. The market was instructed to throw away all food that was not properly cooled. An inspector also noted that sponges, which are not supposed to come into contact with clean, sanitized food-contact surfaces, were on a two-compartment sink used for food preparation. The market was instructed to sanitize the sink surfaces and contaminated utensils, and discard any food that had been in contact with contaminated surfaces. Those and other problems added up to 20 violation points.
- Quickly, 731 E. Yosemite Ave., Suite G, in The Promenade shopping center in Merced: An Oct. 31 inspection resulted in 16 violation points and an “unsatisfactory” score after two bins of chicken were found being stored in a refrigerator uncovered; the same violation was noted in a Sept. 18 inspection. There was also a two-time repeat violation for having a hot-water valve under the kitchen’s handwashing sink shut off because of a leaky hot-water faucet. The same violation had been observed the previous month and in November 2022. The restaurant was instructed to replace the leaky faucets so that hot water is available for handwashing. It was the second consecutive month in which the restaurant received an unsatisfactory rating.
The county gives “good” ratings to businesses with six or fewer violation points, “satisfactory” ratings for seven to 13 violation points, and “unsatisfactory” ratings for 14 or more violation points. Of the 41 food businesses that were inspected in October, nine received satisfactory marks, and 30 received “good” scores — including eight where no violations were found.
In most instances, if an inspector finds a problem, it’s something that can be fixed on the spot. This can include having enough bleach or sanitizer in the water used to wipe down food-preparation areas, replenishing soap, paper towels and toilet paper in the restrooms, or reminding employees to wash their hands and wear gloves and hairnets.
But some violations are considered more serious and, in some instances, can result in immediate closure of restaurants or food businesses when they are observed by health inspectors. Those may include insect or vermin infestations; refrigerators that don’t keep food cold enough or steam tables that don’t keep food hot enough to inhibit bacterial growth, or clogged sinks or drains that cause contaminated water to back up into kitchens.
A lack of hot water is one of the most common violations that health inspectors find when they make their routine visits. Hot water at a temperature of at least 120 degrees is considered important by inspectors for safely washing pots, pans, dishes and glasses, and 100 degrees for employees to wash their hands.
Merced County’s Environmental Health Division maintains a database of restaurant and food inspections online for public viewing at its web page, www.countyofmerced.com/597/Environmental-Health; click the “Food Inspections” tab along the left side of the page.
This story was originally published November 16, 2024 at 6:00 AM.
