WEST CHESTER, PA — Chester County health inspectors cited several food establishments Tuesday for violations ranging from improper food handling and sanitation lapses to pest-control concerns, according to inspection reports released by the Chester County Health Department.
Among the most significant findings, inspectors documented evidence of cockroach activity at Juice Pod in Downingtown and identified multiple food-safety deficiencies at a newly opened Palermo’s Pizza location in Phoenixville.
At Juice Pod, located at 123 E. Lancaster Ave. in Downingtown, inspectors reported glue boards filled with dead cockroaches throughout food preparation areas and additional dead insects on facility floors. The report directed management to immediately contact a licensed pest-control operator, provide pest-management records from the previous three months, and continue weekly treatment and monitoring efforts.
Inspectors also cited the business for allowing a restricted-use pesticide to be applied by a non-certified individual, a violation of state food-safety regulations. Additional issues included a leaking chemical dispenser, non-washable ceiling tiles, cleaning deficiencies, and structural maintenance concerns involving floors and wall junctions.
Palermo’s Pizza, a new establishment at 700 Nutt Road in Phoenixville, received 15 violations during its inspection. Inspectors reported that the person in charge could not adequately demonstrate knowledge of Pennsylvania food-safety requirements. Violations included employees failing to wash hands between tasks, food stored on floors, uncovered food items, missing date markings on ready-to-eat products, unlabeled chemical containers, and improper storage of alcoholic beverages in food-preparation areas.
The report also noted an open beer can in the kitchen and additional alcoholic beverages stored inside the facility’s ice machine. Inspectors said the items were voluntarily discarded during the inspection.
At Little Bay Caribbean Kitchen in Pottstown, inspectors cited blocked handwashing facilities, excessive sanitizer concentrations, food stored directly on the floor, and the presence of household pesticide products in food-preparation areas. The establishment was also directed to install screens on open doors and windows within one week to prevent pest entry.
Inspectors at Opa Taverna Greek Restaurant in West Chester found several food-safety concerns involving temperature control and contamination risks. Hot sauces were being cooled using methods inspectors deemed ineffective, while cooked meats on vertical rotisserie units were observed at room temperature after staff reportedly failed to activate heating equipment.
The restaurant was also cited for storing an employee beverage in an ice machine used for food-service ice and for keeping exterior doors open, creating potential pathways for pests. Management corrected some issues during the inspection, according to the report.
Steel City Coffee House & Brewery in Phoenixville was cited for storing expired milk beyond its manufacturer’s use-by date, mold-like buildup inside an ice machine, missing handwashing facilities in a basement preparation area, and food stored directly on the floor. Inspectors noted that expired milk products were voluntarily discarded during the visit.
Several facilities completed inspections without violations, including
- Chester County Detachment Marine Corps in Downingtown,
- ChristianaCare Hospital’s West Grove Campus food service operation,
- Diamond Eats LLC in West Chester,
- El Batey in Oxford,
- Juice Pod Lionville in Exton,
- La Baguette Magique in West Chester, and
- Uncommon Ramen in Phoenixville.
The Chester County Health Department noted that restaurant inspections represent conditions observed at the specific time of inspection and may not reflect an establishment’s long-term compliance status. Businesses typically have opportunities to correct violations and may be subject to follow-up inspections when warranted.
Residents who observe unsanitary conditions at a food establishment may file a confidential complaint through the Chester County Health Department’s Environmental Health Complaint portal at https://www.chesco.org/5843. Individuals who become ill after eating at a food establishment are asked to call 610-344-6225 rather than submit an online complaint form.
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