WEST CHESTER, PA — Chester County health inspectors found evidence of “multi-generational cockroach activity” and identified concerns involving pesticide treatment and exposed food at La Rancherita Mexican Taqueria during a follow-up inspection Thursday, prompting orders for food disposal, sanitation and additional pest-control documentation.
The Aug. 13 follow-up inspection at La Rancherita Mexican Taqueria, 323 E. Gay St., followed pest-control treatment that the operator indicated occurred a day earlier. According to the Chester County Health Department inspection report, the operator provided video showing the facility being treated with an insecticide through a fogging process.
Inspectors reported that food, utensils, equipment and single-service items had not been removed or adequately covered during the treatment. The pest-control report provided to the county did not identify the chemical used or include instructions for how the restaurant should proceed afterward.
The Health Department directed the operator to immediately provide that information and documentation showing the treatment was performed by a Pennsylvania-certified pest-control operator.
Inspectors also reported finding exposed foods, including tomatillos and other produce, following the treatment and ordered all exposed food discarded. Equipment, utensils and other surfaces were ordered to be thoroughly washed, rinsed and sanitized.
Additional violations involved cleanliness. Inspectors directed La Rancherita Mexican Taqueria to clean surfaces and equipment, including shelves, cabinet interiors, equipment wheels and ledges, as well as floors, walls, ceilings and fixtures.
The inspection was one of several conducted by the Chester County Health Department on Aug. 13.
At D.F. Grocery and Deli, 323 E. Gay St., a follow-up inspection identified six violations. Inspectors found an opened squeeze bottle of mayonnaise at 51 degrees despite labeling requiring refrigeration; it was discarded on-site.
Other findings at D.F. Grocery and Deli included cases of food stored directly on the floor or on inverted crates, single-use plasticware stored in a toilet room, and flan without required use-by dates. Inspectors directed that the flan not be sold until properly date-marked, with the date not to exceed seven days from initial preparation.
The department also cited issues with a shared outdoor dumpster at D.F. Grocery and Deli, including the absence of a tight-fitting lid or cover and a removed drain plug.
A complaint inspection at Primo Hoagies, operated by ADMC Enterprises LLC at 1149 West Chester Pike, resulted in one violation. Inspectors found a gap between a kitchen exterior door and its threshold that could allow pests to enter and directed the business to install a new door sweep.
Nine other facilities inspected Aug. 13 were listed as in compliance:
- Avola, 625 Morehall Road in Malvern;
- Baan Thai Sabaidee, 704 W. Neilds St., Unit 3, in West Chester;
- Canteen at Zek’s Compressed Air Solutions, 1302 Goshen Parkway in West Chester;
- Chick-fil-A/Uwchlan, 211 Eagleview Blvd. in Exton;
- Kennett Monthly Meeting, 125 W. Sickle St. in Kennett Square;
- Marsh Creek Park Concession, 675 Park Road in Downingtown;
- Tai Me Up, 301 Bridge St. in Phoenixville;
- Target T-2905 West Goshen, 985 Paoli Pike in West Chester; and
- Tous les Jours, 275 E. Swedesford Road in Wayne.
The Chester County Health Department cautions that an inspection represents conditions observed at a particular date and time and may not reflect a food facility’s overall or long-term sanitation and food-safety status.
Residents who observe potentially unsanitary conditions can submit an Environmental Health Complaint at https://www.chesco.org/5843. The county states complaints are investigated and kept confidential. Anyone who becomes ill after eating at a food establishment should instead call 610-344-6225.
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