WEST CHESTER, PA — Health inspectors cited a wide range of food safety and sanitation violations across Chester County on Tuesday, documenting problems that ranged from improper food temperatures and cross-contamination risks to missing labels, inadequate sanitizing practices, and maintenance issues at several restaurants, bars, and food retailers.
The inspections, conducted by the Chester County Health Department on December 16, are intended to provide the public with a snapshot of conditions observed at licensed food facilities on the day of inspection. Officials emphasized that a single inspection may not reflect an establishment’s long-term compliance or overall food safety practices.
Among the businesses cited was Bonu Cafe Express in Exton, where inspectors found ready-to-eat foods in coolers that were not date-marked despite being held longer than 24 hours. Additional violations included unlabeled soap at a handwashing sink and the need for more frequent cleaning of non-food contact surfaces, such as hood filters and bathroom walls. Staff labeled the soap during the inspection and were instructed to retrain employees on date-marking procedures.
At C-Town Supermarket in Coatesville, inspectors identified multiple violations in the deli and prep areas, including chicken wings held at 97 degrees instead of the required 135 degrees or higher, unlabeled squeeze bottles, and a lack of ingredient labels on foods packaged on-site. Inspectors also noted damage to a walk-in refrigerator floor and the absence of a sanitizer test kit, directing the store to make immediate and short-term corrections.
Cross Roads, an Indian eatery in Malvern, received an extensive list of violations tied largely to food handling and temperature control. Inspectors observed raw chicken stored above ready-to-eat foods, chicken thawing in standing water, and several items thawing or cooling at room temperature, conditions that can allow harmful bacteria to grow. Multiple foods, including masala sauce, fried onions, chutney, and fish, were discarded during the inspection. Inspectors also cited improper sanitizer concentrations in dishwashing equipment, chemical storage above food, and a lack of sanitizer test strips.
At Ice Line in West Chester, inspectors found ready-to-eat foods lacking date marks, sanitizer levels in a bar dishwasher registering at zero parts per million, and leaks at handwashing and warewashing sinks. The interior of an ice machine was also cited for needing cleaning and sanitizing.
Sabatino’s Grille, also in West Chester, was cited for reusing single-use containers, improper storage of raw eggs above ready-to-eat foods, and temperature violations involving garlic in oil and cheese held above safe limits. Inspectors ordered potentially hazardous foods, including house-made pesto past its date mark, to be discarded and instructed staff to restore soap at handwashing sinks and clean accumulated debris from non-food contact surfaces.
Health department officials urged residents to report unsanitary conditions or suspected food safety concerns by submitting an environmental health complaint, noting that all complaints are investigated and kept confidential. Individuals who believe they became ill after eating at a food establishment are encouraged to call the department directly at 610-344-6225.
The department reiterated that inspection findings reflect conditions at the time of the visit and that facilities are typically given deadlines to correct violations, with follow-up inspections conducted when necessary.
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