Expired baby food and roach nymph: Latest Merced County health inspections
Three Merced County businesses evaluated by inspectors from the Merced County Division of Environmental Health received “unsatisfactory” grades during the latest round of inspections from Nov. 14-25.
Of the latest businesses to be evaluated, five received a rating of “good” and one business 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 greater receive an “unsatisfactory” rating.
Violations recorded by inspectors can range in severity from minor to major. Major violations are “violations that 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 Merced County Division of Environmental Health. If a business fails an inspection, a reinspection is required at a later date.
The Merced County 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 three “unsatisfactory” reports from Nov. 14-25:
Winton Super Market, 6592 N Winton Way, Winton
Winton Super Market received an “Unsatisfactory” rating (18 points) during an inspection Nov. 19, 2025. Here are the violations as observed by the health inspector:
Bakery: This section of the facility is under renovation to make repairs and is not in use.
Food prep area: This section of the facility is under renovation to make repairs and is not in use.
Meat department: Observed the lack of a paper towel dispenser in the meat department. Provide a paper towel dispenser to protect the roll from contamination.
Retail market:
- Observed the accumulation of debris on the fan guards in the produce walk-in refrigerator. Improve cleaning frequency.
- Observed semi frozen meat thawing in room temperature. Thaw under refrigeration or under running water.
- Observed the lack of a toilet paper and paper towel dispenser to keep toilet supplies stocked in. Provide dispensers. (Repeat violation)
- Observed dented cans for sale in the sales floor. Remove dented cans from sale. (Third repeat vioation)
- Observed the temperature of the salad and carrot section of the produce cooler measured 48F and 47F respectively. Keep produce section with perishable food at or below 41F.
- Observed the temperature of the egg and sausage section of the reach-in refrigerator measured at 44F. Keep temperatures at or below 41F.
- Observed expired baby food on the sales floor for sale. Remove expired baby food from sale.
El Porvenir Grocery, 864 W. 13th St., Merced
El Porvenir Grocery received an Unsatisfactory rating (52 points) during an inspection Nov. 25, 2025. Here are the violations as observed by the health inspector:
Food prep:
- Observed equipment crusted with grease and food. Keep equipment clean. Clean daily to prevent the accumulation of debris on equipment.
- Repeat: Observed multiple containers and bags of food not refrigerated.
- Keep food under refrigeration when not being used.
- Observed containers of sauce and food in the prep refrigerator measuring 56 degrees. Observed the refrigerator has an excess of ice build-up. Repair the refrigerator before using to store PHF/perishable foods.
- Observed the chest freezer was over stocked and the lid did not properly close. observed a bag of meat measuring at 44F. Do not overstock chest freezer.
- Food in excess of 50 degrees was voluntarily discarded.
- Observed a bag of rice with an accumulation of liquid dripping into a pan of food on the stove. Store food in a way to prevent drip contamination. The pan of food was voluntarily discarded.
- Observed containers of food without cover when not in use. Keep containers of food covered.
- Observed the lack of soap in the facility. Keep facility stocked with soap to adequately wash hands. (Repeat violation)
- Observed the lack of paper towels to dry hands. Keep the facility stocked with paper towels.
- Observed employee working on food after cleaning without washing hands in between. Food prepared without proper hand washing was voluntarily discarded.
- Observed containers of food stored on the floor. Keep food off the floor.
- Observed the toilet is in disrepair and does not function to remove waste. Toilet was temporarily repaired to allow some flushing. Conduct a proper repair of the toilet.
Applebee’s, 1734 W. Olive Ave., Merced
Applebee’s received an Unsatisfactory rating (23 points) during an inspection Nov. 25, 2025. Here are the violations as observed by the health inspector:
Bar:
- Observed the accumulation of water a liquid in the bar. Improve cleaning frequency to prevent an accumulation of liquids.
- Observed the storage of liquid fly traps next to clean cups around the bar. Keep pest traps away from clean utensils. Improve cleaning in the bar to prevent attracting flies.
Food prep:
- Observed the north section of the cook line refrigerator measured between 48 and 51 degrees. Observed the use of ice to keep food cold. Volume of ice was inadequate in cooling food. Repair or replace the refrigerator. Ice bath must be as deep as the pans of food to allow submersion to the same level as the food. Food in excess of 50 degrees was voluntarily discarded.
- Observed one roach nymph around the ware washing machine. Repair facility and improve cleaning to prevent attracting pest.
- Observed the floor were in adequately repaired and is damaged, missing tiles and grout. Properly repair to prevent an accumulation of liquid waste build up on the floor. (Repeat violation)
- Observed the lack of paper towels in the dispenser at one hand wash sink and the lack of soap at another hand wash sink. Keep hand wash sink dispensers stocked.
- Observed the sanitizer strength of the ware washer was at 0 ppm. Ensure sanitizer is at or above 50ppm for automatic sanitizer. A new container of sanitizer was installed. Check sanitizer strength frequently to ensure there is adequate santizer.
Businesses that received ‘Good’ ratings
- Mocha Boba, 851 W. Olive Ave. Ste 710, Merced
- Atwater Mini Mart, 1198 Winton Way, Atwater
- China House, 1440 Broadway Ave., Atwater
- Tractor Supply Store #1280-Atwater, 1700 Bell Lane, Atwater
Businesses that received ‘Satisfactory’ ratings
- Xtreme Power Gas, Food & Liquor (Food), 1385 Winton Way, Atwater
Next steps for Merced businesses
According to the Division of Environmental Health, in some instances 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.
This story was originally published December 1, 2025 at 11:45 AM with the headline "Expired baby food and roach nymph: Latest Merced County health inspections."
