MALVERN, PA — Chester County health officials closed Halal Meat Group LLC in Malvern on Friday after inspectors found no required handwashing sink in its food-production area, one of numerous food-safety violations that also included improperly held raw meat, inadequate sanitizing and unverifiable sourcing for fish.
The Chester County Health Department directed the business at 132 Lancaster Ave. not to prepare or serve food until receiving county approval. Inspectors reported that a handwashing sink previously located in the production and warewashing area had been removed.
According to the inspection report, the person in charge told inspectors employees were washing their hands in either the restroom or a mop sink. Inspectors reported finding no soap at either sink.
The county also documented an employee leaving the restroom without following proper handwashing procedures and another food worker handling food while a visible cut on the worker’s hand was not properly covered.
Temperature control was another issue. Raw goat and chicken being prepared by employees were measured between 57 and 63 degrees, above the maximum required cold-holding temperature of 41 degrees, according to the report.
The food was discarded during the inspection.
Inspectors also reported that a meat slicer was used to cut raw chicken after raw goat without adequate cleaning and sanitizing. Cutting boards were similarly being used for different types of raw animal foods without being cleaned between uses.
No sanitizer had been prepared when inspectors arrived while employees were handling raw goat and chicken. When staff prepared a chlorine sanitizing solution at an inspector’s request, its concentration measured 25 parts per million, below the required 50 to 100 ppm.
Food-contact surfaces including scales, slicers and preparation tables had visible food residue, according to the inspection. Raw-food residue was also reported on refrigeration equipment, shelves and cooler handles.
The facility could not provide documentation showing that fish offered for sale came from approved sources. Inspectors directed the business to provide invoices.
Packaged raw meat and poultry lacked required safe-handling instructions, while other prepackaged meats were missing some required information such as product names, ingredients, net weight, distributor statements or nutrition facts.
Inspectors also found flies, dead flies and fly traps inside the business and directed it to obtain service from a pest-control professional.
Additional findings included the lack of a dedicated food-preparation sink, deeply scored cutting boards, inadequate refrigeration thermometers, improper wiping materials and extensive cleaning and facility-maintenance issues.
The business also lacked a certified food manager recognized by the county. The report states an employee had completed an approved training course but had not yet applied for Chester County certification.
The Sept. 4 inspection was one of several county food-facility reports that identified violations.
At Jimmy’s BBQ, 309 Lancaster Ave. in Frazer, an inspection stemming from a complaint found raw ribs being held at 60 degrees rather than 41 degrees or below. The ribs were discarded during the inspection.
Inspectors also cited Jimmy’s BBQ for an employee returning from outside and putting on gloves without first washing their hands, uncovered food in a walk-in cooler, inconsistent date marking and food residue on a can-opener blade.
The restaurant was also directed to undergo deeper cleaning of floors, walls, ceilings, equipment and shelving.
A follow-up inspection at La Rancherita Mexican Taqueria, 323 E. Gay St. in West Chester, found two live cockroaches despite pest-control treatments conducted Sept. 2 and Sept. 4.
Inspectors also reviewed photographs showing equipment and utensils had not been covered or removed during a Sept. 2 pesticide treatment involving a thermo-fogger. Employees had subsequently cleaned and sanitized equipment in cooking and juicing areas, while remaining pots, pans and food-contact surfaces in the warewashing room were ordered to be thoroughly washed, rinsed and sanitized.
At Greek Express, 127 S. 10th St. in Philadelphia, inspectors found food in a preparation refrigerator at 50 degrees or higher and frozen products that were soft rather than fully frozen. The equipment was ordered repaired immediately.
Three facilities listed in the Sept. 4 results were in compliance: China Garden/East Marlborough in Kennett Square, Gourmet Jerk Shack Commissary in Downingtown and Olive Tree Greek Grill in Paoli.
The Chester County Health Department cautions that inspections represent conditions observed at a particular date and time and may not reflect a food establishment’s long-term sanitation or food-safety status.
Residents who observe potentially unsanitary conditions can submit a confidential Environmental Health Complaint at https://www.chesco.org/5843. Anyone who becomes ill after eating at a food establishment should instead call the Health Department at 610-344-6225.
Support the local news that supports Chester County. MyChesCo delivers reliable, fact-based reporting and essential community resources—free for everyone. If you value that, click here to become a patron today.