WEST CHESTER, PA — A fresh round of Chester County health inspections on Tuesday uncovered a string of food safety lapses, expired dairy products, and sanitation failures across several popular grocery and restaurant locations, forcing inspectors to discard food on the spot and issue warnings aimed at protecting the public.
The Chester County Health Department stressed that inspections represent a snapshot of conditions on a specific day, but the violations documented on January 13 revealed how quickly routine mistakes can turn into potential health hazards if not addressed.
At Landhope Farms Store #3 in Oxford, inspectors found multiple ready-to-eat items without required date labels, including nacho cheese, liverwurst, maple ham, yogurt, and milk. Several products were already past their sell-by dates and were discarded during the inspection. Beef steak being held in a steam table at just 124 to 126 degrees — well below the required 135 degrees for hot foods — was also thrown out. Inspectors further ordered cleaning behind menu boards, inside utility rooms and around floor drains, and required better logging of deli slicer sanitation.
At Wasabi 5 in Exton, inspectors cited improper cold holding of house-made sauces and tofu, with temperatures ranging from 47 to 49 degrees instead of the required 41 degrees or below. Raw eggs and raw fish were found stored above ready-to-eat foods, a serious cross-contamination risk that was corrected during the visit. Inspectors also flagged flour used on raw fish that was not being changed frequently enough, plastic wrap and aluminum foil lining kitchen surfaces, reused single-use containers, dirty food-contact equipment, and mislabeled chemical bottles.
At West Chester Pizza Café, inspectors documented widespread violations tied to temperature control, sanitation, and food handling. Ready-to-eat foods such as meatballs and deli meats were not date-marked, par-cooked chicken wings were stored above prepared foods, and multiple items were found sitting directly on the floor of the walk-in refrigerator. Containers of garlic, sauces, and dressings were held at unsafe temperatures and discarded. Inspectors also cited deeply scored cutting boards, sanitizer mixed improperly with detergent, dirty ice machine components, and missing floor tiles and wall damage near food storage areas. Leaking sinks and malfunctioning thermometers added to the list of required repairs.
The Health Department reminded the public that inspections are designed to identify and correct problems, not to permanently label a business, and that many issues are addressed immediately during visits. Residents who see unsanitary conditions or believe a food-safety issue needs investigation are encouraged to submit an Environmental Health Complaint, while anyone who becomes ill after eating at a food establishment should call 610-344-6225 so the matter can be investigated promptly.
All complaints are kept confidential as inspectors continue their ongoing effort to keep Chester County’s food supply safe.
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