WEST CHESTER, PA — A routine round of health inspections across Chester County this week surfaced a string of food safety lapses at popular eateries, prompting corrective action on the spot and renewed reminders that even brief missteps can carry risks.
The inspections, conducted Friday by the Chester County Health Department, are intended to give the public a snapshot of sanitation and food-handling practices at licensed food facilities, including restaurants and specialty food shops. Officials caution that each inspection reflects conditions at a specific moment in time and may not represent an establishment’s overall compliance history.
At California Tortilla in Exton, inspectors cited multiple time-and-temperature violations, including vinaigrette held at 54 degrees instead of the required 41 degrees or below and hot-held foods, such as chicken and queso, measuring between 118 and 127 degrees—short of the 135-degree minimum. Both issues were addressed during the inspection, with foods returned to proper holding conditions. Additional violations included unlabeled squeeze bottles, missing date marks on ready-to-eat foods, a lack of sanitizer test strips, and empty soap and paper towel dispensers at a handwash sink. Inspectors also noted equipment leaks and the absence of a certified food employee, requiring follow-up action.
In Kennett Square, Giordano’s Pizza recorded a lengthy list of violations spanning cooling, cooking, sanitation, and chemical use. Inspectors discarded improperly cooled chicken wings found at unsafe temperatures and required undercooked chicken to be returned to the grill until it reached 165 degrees. Other findings included food thawing at room temperature, refrigeration units failing to maintain 41 degrees or below, dirty soda gun nozzles, and the improper use of straight bleach on food-contact surfaces. Several foods were discarded, and staff were instructed on correct cooling, sanitizing, and temperature-monitoring procedures.
A third inspection at Olive & Meadow, a charcuterie boutique in West Chester, identified refrigeration failures that left cheeses held between 44 and 45 degrees. Inspectors ordered the display unit removed from service until it can reliably maintain safe temperatures. Additional violations included incomplete product labeling, raw wood beneath a handwashing sink, and the use of non-commercial-grade food storage containers.
Health officials emphasized that many of the violations were corrected during inspections and that follow-up compliance is required. They urged residents to report unsanitary conditions or suspected food safety issues through the county’s confidential environmental health complaint process, noting that anyone who becomes ill after eating at a food establishment should contact the health department directly at 610-344-6225.
County officials stress that inspections are a preventive tool, not a verdict, but the findings serve as a reminder that vigilance in food safety—by operators and regulators alike—remains essential to protecting the public.
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