WEST CHESTER, PA — Chester County health inspectors found temperature-control, sanitation, and food-storage violations at four food facilities during Sept. 14 inspections, while nine other establishments listed in the county’s inspection reports were in compliance.
The Chester County Health Department cited The Borough, at 149-151 E. Lancaster Ave. in Downingtown, after inspectors found various time- and temperature-controlled foods held between 45 and 52 degrees in a two-door built-in prep cooler. Such foods are required to be maintained at 41 degrees or below.
An employee discarded the affected food, according to the inspection report. The restaurant was directed to use other refrigeration until the cooler is repaired, with repairs due by Sept. 21. The person in charge told inspectors a new condenser had been ordered and was scheduled for installation.
Inspectors also found raw chicken stored above raw shrimp at The Borough. The drawers were rearranged during the inspection to prevent potential contamination.
Other findings included expired buttermilk, missing soap at two upstairs bar handwashing sinks, an empty paper-towel dispenser at another handwashing sink and open employee beverages on kitchen food-preparation areas.
Inspectors also cited improper utensil storage, cups being used as scoops in dry-goods containers, buildup inside mechanical warewashing equipment and unscreened open windows and a sliding door that did not protect against entry by pests.
The Borough, which the county described as a new food facility operating for more than 90 days, also had not employed a certified supervisory employee as required. The facility was directed to apply for Chester County Health Department certified food manager status.
At Pizza Villa, 104 W. First Ave. in Parkesburg, inspectors measured the pizza prep top at 44 degrees instead of the required 41 degrees or below. Food was removed, and a repair company was contacted during the inspection, with the unit ordered out of use until repaired.
Pizza Villa was also cited for ready-to-eat foods that were not date marked, rusty shelving in the walk-in refrigerator, and a failure to maintain required records for pizzas and pepperoni rolls held at room temperature under time-control procedures.
Inspectors found some squeeze bottles and other containers without labels identifying their contents. Employees began labeling them during the inspection. The restaurant was also directed to stop reusing containers originally intended for commercially packaged food.
Hill’s Quality Seafood, 354 N. Pottstown Pike in Exton, was cited after the interior upper portion of an ice machine, a food-contact surface, was observed with residue and was not clean to sight and touch. Inspectors directed the facility to clean and sanitize it.
The seafood business was also washing and reusing seafood shipping containers for food storage, according to inspectors. The county directed the facility to obtain food-grade containers designed for reuse.
Additional findings at Hill’s included incomplete shellstock tags, pots stored outside where they could be exposed to contamination, unclean aprons touching clean food equipment and single-use plastic bowls used as scoops in dry-goods containers.
Inspectors also documented maintenance problems with the ice machine, including loose or missing seals and missing screws or bolts; food stored directly on the walk-in freezer floor; and cleaning issues involving floors, display cases and freezer components. Unlabeled chemical spray bottles were labeled during the inspection.
At CVS Pharmacy #1159, 760 Miles Road in West Chester, inspectors cited a leaking roof in the retail area. The facility had been serviced and water was being directed into buckets, according to the report, but the county ordered the roof leaks repaired and affected ceiling tiles replaced.
The CVS location was also directed to clean the walk-in cooler floor, remove trash and debris around the outdoor dumpster, and clean the public restroom toilet and handwashing sink.
Nine establishments were listed as in compliance:
- Chester County Intermediate Unit Child Care – Food, 530 E. Union St., West Chester;
- CVS Pharmacy #3875, 1450 Pottstown Pike, West Chester;
- Han Dynasty, 260 N. Pottstown Pike, Suite 68, Exton;
- King’s Garden Restaurant, 308 S. High St., West Chester;
- Mama Donna’s Bakery, 428 W. First Ave., Unit E, Parkesburg;
- Oola Bowls Malvern, 20 Liberty Blvd., Malvern;
- So Sabroso LLC, 105 D Westtown Road, West Chester;
- St. Matthews UCC, 2350 Conestoga Road, Chester Springs; and
- The Camphill School, 1784 Fairview Road, Glenmoore.
The Health Department cautions that an inspection represents conditions observed on a particular day and at a particular time and may not reflect a facility’s long-term sanitation or food-safety status.
Residents who witness unsanitary conditions or believe an issue requires investigation can submit a confidential Environmental Health Complaint at https://www.chesco.org/5843. Anyone who becomes sick after eating at a food establishment should instead call the department at 610-344-6225.
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