WEST CHESTER, PA — Chester County health inspectors documented temperature-control, sanitation and equipment violations at three food establishments on August 24, prompting the disposal of potentially hazardous foods and orders for refrigeration and other repairs intended to reduce foodborne-illness risks.
The findings involved Just Mom’s LLC in Honey Brook, Sawmill Grill in Oxford and White Dog Cafe in Exton. The inspection at Just Mom’s followed a complaint, while the county did not identify the other two inspections as complaint-driven.
County officials cautioned that each report represents conditions observed at a particular time and may not reflect an establishment’s long-term food-safety record.
At Just Mom’s, inspectors found cheese, deli meat, cooked onions and mushrooms held between 47 and 53 degrees in a one-door refrigerator, above the maximum required temperature of 41 degrees. Those foods were discarded.
Additional items in a preparation unit registered between 44 and 47 degrees. The food had been placed there at 11 a.m. and was discarded at 3 p.m., although the unit itself registered 36 degrees; inspectors directed employees not to overfill it and to keep the lid closed when possible.
The one-door cooler had a condenser leak and worn door gaskets, according to the report. The business was ordered to use other refrigeration until the unit is repaired or replaced by August 31.
Inspectors also found tomato sauce held at 87 degrees instead of the required minimum of 135 degrees. The sauce was reheated to 167 degrees during the inspection.
Other findings included undated or expired temperature-controlled foods, severely dented cans, improperly labeled packaged products and a deli slicer that had not been cleaned at least every four hours while in use.
The report also identified food residue on a rolling pin, pizza peel, soda-machine ice chute and baking equipment. Just Mom’s was directed to install a food-preparation sink within one year and submit plans to the county before installation.
At Sawmill Grill, an employee was observed putting on disposable gloves without first washing their hands. The employee removed the gloves, washed and put on a new pair during the inspection.
Inspectors discarded 13 sealed packages of tilapia that had thawed in reduced-oxygen packaging. Such packages must be opened before thawing to allow oxygen inside, according to the report.
The restaurant’s automated sanitizer dispenser at the three-compartment sink was not working, and the facility lacked the test strips needed to measure sanitizer concentration.
Inspectors also reported mold-like growth inside the ice machine. Employees cleaned and sanitized the equipment during the inspection.
At White Dog Cafe, inspectors found several refrigerated foods above 41 degrees, including beef at 46 degrees, blue cheese and onion sauce at 47 degrees and crème fraîche in a squeeze bottle at 67 degrees.
The restaurant was directed to repair refrigeration equipment and retrain employees to refrigerate squeeze bottles or hold them in proper ice baths.
Tomato soup was found cooling in a deep container on a counter. Staff moved it into an ice bath and used an ice wand after the inspector explained that it must cool to 70 degrees within two hours and then to 41 degrees within six hours.
Rice in a cooker was held at 127 degrees instead of at least 135 degrees. Inspectors also found prepared foods without date markings and tofu and jalapeño aioli past their marked use dates; the expired items were discarded.
White Dog Cafe was ordered to repair a nonworking freezer fan, a leaking refrigerator condensate line and a dishwasher wash gauge. Inspectors also directed the restaurant to keep patio doors closed after flies were observed inside.
Ten other facilities inspected August 24 were listed as compliant:
- Aldi in Phoenixville;
- Arora Estates LLC doing business as Exxon in West Chester;
- California Tortilla in East Pikeland;
- Chartwells at New Garden Elementary School;
- Downingtown High School’s home and away concession stands;
- Gigante International Food Market in Avondale;
- Los Sombreros in West Chester;
- New Garden Elementary School;
- PrimoHoagies in West Chester; and
- Snack Shack in Phoenixville.
Residents may submit confidential environmental health complaints at https://www.chesco.org/5843. Anyone who became ill after eating at a food establishment should call the Chester County Health Department at 610-344-6225 instead of using the online form.
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