One Merced County restaurant receives ‘unsatisfactory’ score in November food inspection
Only one restaurant in Merced County received an “unsatisfactory” score from health inspectors in November. Most of the restaurants, markets and food businesses visted by Merced County health inspectors last month received passing scores of either “good” or “satisfactory” ratings.
The Coconut Cafe, on Highway 59 near Buena Vista Drive in Merced, was dinged by inspectors from the county’s Environmental Health division in a Nov. 13 inspection in which food products were found being kept at temperatures outside of a safe level to inhibit bacteria growth.
Food safety regulations call for potentially hazardous hot foods to be kept either at or above 135 degrees, while cold foods are to be maintained at or below 41 degrees. Bean sprouts that had been prepared two hours prior to the inspection were found to be at 62 degrees. Meats in the top section of an under-counter refrigerator were measured at 54 degrees, while other food was measured at 48 degrees.
All of the food in the refrigerator were being cooled with ice; the restaurant was instructed to have the refrigerator repaired. Meat was also found thawing in buckets at room temperature, rather than being thawed under running water or under refrigeration.
Another violation involved using sponges, which are difficult to clean and sanitize, to wash dishes.
Meat was also found thawing in buckets at room temperature, rather than being thawed under running water or under refrigeration.
The problems found added up to a total of 18 violation points, enough to warrant 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 20 food businesses that were inspected in October, six received satisfactory marks, and 13 received “good” scores — including 10 where no violation points were recorded.
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 December 9, 2024 at 1:03 PM.
