Check out Thurston County food safety scores for Sept. 20

Comments are taken directly from the latest Thurston County inspection reports, which are available for each food establishment, at the Thurston County Environmental Health Office and their website. For questions concerning these reports, contact the health office at 360-867-2667.

Report restaurant, grocery store, deli or bakery complaints online via the complaint form here: https://www.thurstoncountywa.gov/phss/Pages/eh-problem.aspx.

Reading inspection scores:

• Attention should be given to the type of violation (red versus blue) and whether the establishment has a history of red violations or repeat violations.
• Red violations are those most likely to cause food-borne illness and must be corrected immediately if feasible or according to a compliance schedule established by the health officer. Example: not keeping food at the right temperature.
• Blue violations relate to the overall cleanliness and condition of operation and must be corrected according to a compliance schedule established by the health officer. Example: a worn floor that needs replacing.
• If red points exceed 45, the county will require a reinspection within 10 business days.
• If red points exceed 100 and there’s a lack of managerial control, the county will shut down the establishment for at least 72 hours. The establishment may reopen after management and employees complete retraining and demonstrate corrective action during a reinspection.
• Some common abbreviations: PHF/TCS is potentially hazardous food/time control for safety; RTE is ready to eat; PIC is person in charge; FWC is food worker card; CDI is corrected during inspection.

Lemongrass Café

5801 Capitol Blvd. SW, Olympia

Sept. 13: 45 red points; 5 blue points.

Comments:

• The inspector observed a worker wash their hands in the produce sink. Hands must be washed in the designated hand wash sink to prevent potential contamination.
• A bar hand sink was being used as a dump sink since two other sinks were not working.
• Some TCS foods were being improperly cold held in the prep unit and on a counter top.
• A high temperature warewash facility did not reach 180 degrees as required.

El Sitio

116 Legion Way SE, Olympia

Sept. 11: 40 red points; 8 blue points.

Comments:

• The person in charge must obtain certified food manager training in four weeks.
• Freshly made flan was cooled while covered with foil when it should not have been covered.
• A quart can of paint rested on a cutting board of the prep fridge. Chemical products must be stored below and away from food contact surfaces.
• Semi-frozen pork shoulder was found thawing at room temperature rather than in the refrigerator.
• Recycled content plastic bags were used in food portion storage. The inspector directed them to obtain food grade plastic bags.

Pink Sugar Espresso Olympia

6501 Martin Way E., Olympia

Sept. 12: 40 red points; 7 blue points.

Comments:

• The person in charge did not demonstrate proper food safety knowledge or control for risk.
• A food worker card was not available upon request.
• A hand-washing basin was occupied by a sanitizer bucket. Hand-washing sinks must be accessible at all times.
• Some TCS foods were not being held at or below 41 degrees as required.
• Food thermometers were not present or used.
• The establishment did not comply with their permit conditions regarding a ware-washing facility.
• Workers improperly used a dump sink for ware washing.
• A refrigerator was not properly installed.

Emperor’s Palace

7321 Martin Way E., Olympia

Sept. 13: 40 red points; 5 blue points.

Comments:

• Rice noodles were observed cooling while covered in the walk-in. Cooked chicken was cooling at depths greater than 2-inch amounts at 80-90 degrees. Foods must be cooled uncovered at 2-inch depths or less until it reaches 41 degrees.
• Various items in the walk-in cold hold were between 42-45 degrees. TCS foods must be kept at or below 41 degrees.
• An in-use chlorine sanitizer was too strong and needed to be diluted.
• A bar ware-wash sanitizer was too weak.

Emerald City Smoothie

1140 Galaxy Drive NE, Lacey

Sept. 13: 30 red points; 10 blue points.

Comments:

• Food worker cards were not available upon request.
• Dishes were in the hand washing sink. Handwashing sinks must be kept clear.
• The hand wash sink did not turn off with handles. Workers could only turn it off with a valve at the bottom of the sink.
• Non-dairy milk in the prep unit was between 54-58 degrees. TCS foods must kept at or below 41 degrees.
• There was no probe tip food thermometer available during the inspection.
• Test strips were unavailable to verify the sanitizer concentration.

Safeway #1173

1243 Marvin Road NE, Lacey

Sept. 13: 35 red points; 0 blue points.

Comments:

• A worker did not wash their hands before putting gloves on, nor did they wash their hands for at least 20 seconds as required.
• A cut watermelon was above 51 degrees. TCS foods must be kept at or below 41 degrees when cold held.

Rock Wood Fired Pizza

5400 Martin Way E., Lacey

Sept. 12: 5 red points; 23 blue points.

Comments:

• A unit thermometer was absent, and workers could not locate a food thermometer.
• Residential, dorm-style refrigerators were used rather than commercial equipment.
• Raw chicken was observed thawing in standing water at 72 degrees.
• A bar gun holster was unsanitary and not cleaned. An ice machine had mold.
• Sanitizer wiping cloths were improperly stored on counters. A sanitizer solution was not at the proper concentration.
• A dish washing machines was not properly functioning or sanitizing dishes.

Costco #740

1470 Marvin Road NE, Lacey

Sept. 13: 15 red points; 0 blue points.

Comments:

• The inspector noted some TCS foods were improperly cold held above 41 degrees.
• The establishment improperly used IR thermometers rather than probing thermometers.

Golf Club at Hawks Prairie

8383 Vicwood Lane NE, Lacey

Food Service Establishment

Sept. 13: 15 red points; 0 blue points.

Comments:

• One employee could not present their food working card during the inspection.
• Orange juice that needed to be refrigerated was at 56 degrees in the bar cold hold. TCS foods must be at or below 41 degrees when cold held.

No violations:

• Golf Club at Hawks Prairie, Grocery Stores and Confectioneries, 8383 Vicwood Lane NE, Lacey.