WEST CHESTER, PA — The Chester County Health Department cited sanitation and food safety violations at two licensed food facilities during inspections conducted Thursday, including improper food storage, sanitation issues and equipment problems.
Inspectors conducted the routine inspections March 6 as part of the county’s program overseeing restaurants, grocery stores, convenience stores, cafeterias and other establishments that serve food to the public.
At ARAMARK @ Penn Med SCC – Coffee, located at 455 W. Woodview Road in West Grove, inspectors reported two violations during a change-of-owner inspection.
Inspectors said sanitizer test strips used to measure disinfectant levels were discolored and must be replaced.
They also observed the ambient temperature of a grab-and-go Federal merchandiser at 42 to 46 degrees Fahrenheit, above the recommended 41-degree threshold for time/temperature controlled foods.
According to the report, food stored in the unit was moved to another refrigerator after inspectors measured the food temperature below 41 degrees.
The unit was not to be used to store temperature-sensitive foods until serviced, and a technician was scheduled to inspect the equipment the same day.
A separate inspection at Murasaki Chester Springs Inc., 475 E. Uwchlan Ave. in Chester Springs, documented multiple violations involving food storage, sanitation and facility maintenance.
Inspectors reported that employees were washing hands in a bucket of standing water at the cook line rather than using a designated handwashing sink.
The report also cited improper thawing practices, including raw shrimp thawing in standing water and fish thawing in vacuum-sealed packaging that had not been opened to allow oxygen to enter.
Inspectors observed raw beef thawing on top of a box of lettuce, which was immediately corrected by relocating the meat.
Other violations included unlabeled food containers, the absence of thermometers for verifying food temperatures, and ready-to-eat foods held longer than 24 hours without required date marking.
The inspection also identified equipment and sanitation issues, including rusted shelving in a walk-in refrigerator, deeply scored cutting boards, grease accumulation on pans and insufficient sanitizer concentration in the dishwashing machine.
Additional violations included trash scattered around the dumpster area, food stored directly on the floor, reuse of single-use food containers and a lack of soap at a handwashing sink.
Inspectors also reported plumbing leaks beneath a handwashing sink, a slow-draining sink near the cook line and a leaking compressor drain in the walk-in freezer.
Structural issues noted in the report included a cracked floor in the walk-in unit and a gap under a rear exterior door that could allow insects or rodents to enter.
The Chester County Health Department notes that inspection reports reflect conditions observed at the time of the inspection and may not represent the facility’s long-term sanitation status.
Residents who observe unsanitary conditions at food establishments may submit a complaint through the county’s Environmental Health Complaint system at https://www.chesco.org/5843 or call 610-344-6225 if illness is suspected after eating at a facility.
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