WEST CHESTER, PA — Chester County health inspectors cited rodent activity at Applebrook Golf Club, unsafe food temperatures at several facilities and a hot-water problem that threatened to keep an East Nottingham childcare center from opening Friday during inspections conducted Oct. 1.
The Chester County Health Department cautions that inspection reports represent conditions observed at a specific time and may not reflect a facility’s long-term sanitation or food-safety status.
Applebrook Golf Club, 100 Line Road in Malvern, received multiple violations, including evidence of rodent activity in its downstairs kitchen and storage areas. Inspectors reported droppings along floor and wall junctures and directed the facility to remove the droppings, disinfect affected surfaces and continue professional pest-control treatment.
Inspectors also observed flies throughout the facility and insect activity in soda-gun drains at the bistro bar. The drains were removed during the inspection, according to the report.
Additional Applebrook violations included a food employee washing hands without soap in a three-compartment sink and drying them on an apron; raw eggs stored above ready-to-eat food; expired ready-to-eat foods that required discarding; and vodka sauce held at 130 degrees instead of the required minimum of 135 degrees.
The eggs were relocated, expired foods were discarded and the sauce was reheated to 165 degrees during the inspection.
Inspectors also cited residue on a can-opener blade and soda-gun nozzle, dripping from the fan system in an upstairs walk-in cooler, and several areas requiring additional cleaning. The facility’s downstairs walk-in freezer was out of service but contained no food.
The report also said Applebrook had been without a certified supervisory employee for about three months. Two employees were enrolled in a certification class and exam.
At Bright Beginnings Education Center, 2222 Baltimore Pike in Oxford, inspectors found that a handwashing sink immediately outside the kitchen lacked water at the required minimum temperature of 85 degrees.
A contractor who arrived during the inspection determined that a new hot-water heater was needed and was expected to install it that day, according to the report. Inspectors warned that the facility could not open Oct. 2 unless sufficient hot water was restored.
The center was also cited after a refrigerator initially registered between 48 and 50 degrees. Its temperature fell to 41 degrees during the inspection, and staff were instructed to monitor it daily.
At 7-Eleven/A Plus, 2200 Pottstown Pike in Pottstown, creamers were held between 44 and 50 degrees in a countertop cooler instead of at 41 degrees or below. The creamers were discarded, and inspectors directed the facility to replace the cooler and use other refrigeration equipment in the meantime.
The store was also cited for residue on a hot-water dispenser nozzle and for a restroom door that was not being kept closed.
At Bethel United Methodist Church, 952 Bethel Church Road in Spring City, refrigerated foods were found at 53 degrees rather than 41 degrees or below and were discarded. The person in charge also could not locate chlorine test strips, according to the inspection report.
Fusion Restaurant, 1103 West Chester Pike in West Chester, was cited after an employee at the sushi station touched peeled raw cucumber with bare hands. Inspectors ordered the cucumber discarded and directed employees to use gloves when handling ready-to-eat foods.
Inspectors also found paper towels in contact with raw fish, ordered cleaning and sanitizing of the large ice machine and related equipment, and noted that the restaurant lacked distilled water required for preparing rice slurry used in sushi pH testing. An employee was sent to a grocery store during the inspection to obtain it.
The restaurant was also directed to repair or replace broken floor tiles around a grease-trap lid.
Facilities listed as in compliance on Oct. 1 included:
- Amma Indian Grocery, 477 Lancaster Ave., Unit 105, Malvern
- Aramark at Bishop Shanahan High School, 220 Woodbine Road, Downingtown
- Burger King #12016/Valley, 100 Airport Road, Coatesville
- Chartwells at M.D. Lang Elementary School, 409 Center St., Kennett Square
- Creekside Coffee, 126 S. Third St., Oxford
- Giant Food Store #6505/East Goshen, 1375 Boot Road, West Chester
- Kaanchi Indian Cuisine, 43 N. Bailey Road, Thorndale
- Mobile Mess Hall/CCHD #1327, 220 E. King St., Malvern
- Pottstown Premium Cinemas LLC, doing business as Flagship Premium Cinemas, 650 W. Schuylkill Road, Pottstown
- Sitara Indian Cuisine, 630 Lancaster Ave., Malvern
- Wawa #258/East Vincent, 3380 Schuylkill Road, Spring City
- Wendy’s Restaurant/Parkesburg, 700 Nova Way, Parkesburg
Residents who observe 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 is advised to call the Chester County Health Department at 610-344-6225 instead of using the online complaint form.
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