minorCode MN Rule 4626.0725ACleaning and sanitizing
Official wording
Place fixed equipment to allow access for cleaning or, seal to adjoining equipment or walls.
Inspector’s notes
The caulk sealing the 3 basin sink to the wall in the dish area was observed molding and pulling away from the wall. Remove old caulking and replace with new seal. Maintain sealing between wall and fixed equipment in good condition at times.
In plain English
Dishes, equipment, or surfaces that touch food were not properly washed, rinsed, and sanitized, or sanitizer was not at the right strength. Clean surfaces help stop germs from spreading to food.
While TCS foods are cooling, keep containers uncovered, unstacked, and spread out.
Inspector’s notes
Cooked beef and cooked shrimp in the Walk In Cooler were observed cooling with the lids or cling film tightly covering the products, preventing more rapid cooling. Discussed with Owner that foods need to be cooled as rapidly as possible for safest cooling and ways to cool foods most rapidly are to use thin containers, uncover foods when they are actively cooling, keep containers in single layer while cooling and spread out product as thinly as possible in the container. Retrain staff to cool foods uncovered, unstacked and spread out for most rapid cooling.
In plain English
Food was not kept cold enough, hot enough, cooled fast enough, or cooked or reheated to the right temperature. Bacteria grow quickly in the "danger zone" between 41°F and 135°F, which makes this one of the most important food-safety checks.
Sanitize food contact surfaces of equipment and utensils after cleaning by using an approved chemical sanitizer in manual or mechanical operations for at least 7 or 10 seconds for chlorine depending on temperature, concentration, and pH; and 30 seconds for all other chemical sanitizers or an contact time used in relation with a combination of temperature, concentration, and pH.
Inspector’s notes
Bar chlorine dish machine's sanitizer was measured at 0PPM at the time of inspection. Data plate on dish machine requires sanitizer concentration to be 50PPM. Container of sanitizer was observed with an extremely thin hose transporting sanitizer to dish machine, which may be impacting the concentration of the dish machine. Discussed with Owner that dish machine would need to be serviced before resuming use. Send dishes to main kitchen dish machine to be adequately sanitized until machine is repaired. Train staff to monitor dish machine sanitizer concentration regularly before washing dishes in the dish machine. Ensure sanitizer concentration is 50PPM to adequately sanitize dishes at all times.
In plain English
Cleaning products, pesticides, or other chemicals were stored or labeled in a way that could let them get into food. This is serious because chemical contamination can make people sick quickly.
Have a thin-tipped food thermometer easily available to measure the internal temperature of thin pieces of food.
Inspector’s notes
There was no thin tipped food thermometer for measuring thin meats at the time of inspection. Provide a thin tipped thermometer and maintain on site at all times.
In plain English
Food was not kept cold enough, hot enough, cooled fast enough, or cooked or reheated to the right temperature. Bacteria grow quickly in the "danger zone" between 41°F and 135°F, which makes this one of the most important food-safety checks.
Maintain all hot, TCS foods at 135 degrees F or hotter. (Roast beef may be held at 130 degrees F or hotter, if it is cooked according to Part 4626.0340 item B or reheated according to Part 4626.0360, item E.)
Inspector’s notes
Hot & Sour soup was observed improperly hot holding on the stove top at 72F at the time of inspection. Soup had been left on stovetop for 1.5 hours at the time of inspection and burner had been turned off when it had been fully cooked. Servings then would be reheated from the bulk pot. Discussed with owner that this is not an appropriate method of holding foods for service. Soup was able to be reheated to 178F and then burner was kept on to hot hold food for orders at 135F or higher. Retrain staff to hot hold TCS foods at 135F or higher at all times.
In plain English
Food was not kept cold enough, hot enough, cooled fast enough, or cooked or reheated to the right temperature. Bacteria grow quickly in the "danger zone" between 41°F and 135°F, which makes this one of the most important food-safety checks.
minorCode MN Rule 4626.0840CCleaning and sanitizing
Official wording
Clean non-food contact surfaces of equipment. Keep them clean.
Inspector’s notes
The outside non food contact surfaces of flour bins, sugar bins, and the stand mixer were observed soiled with encrusted flour accumulations. Clean these items and maintain them clean to sight and touch.
In plain English
Dishes, equipment, or surfaces that touch food were not properly washed, rinsed, and sanitized, or sanitizer was not at the right strength. Clean surfaces help stop germs from spreading to food.
criticalCode MN Rule 4626.1085AWater, plumbing, and sewage
Official wording
Mount the spray arm so it cannot hang below the spill rim of a sink or provide an approved backflow prevention device on the faucet.
Inspector’s notes
Spray arm of the 3 basin sink in the dish area was observed hanging into the water of the sink at the time of inspection. Discussed with owner that the spray arm creates a cross connection between the fresh water supply and the grey water supply and can contaminate the fresh water supply hanging into the sink. Owner hung the spray arm on the mounting so that there was an air gap between the spray arm and the sink's water. Replace or shorten the spray arm so that when it hangs, that it does not hang into the sink. Maintain this air gap at all times to protect the water supply.
In plain English
The business had issues with hot or cold running water, plumbing, drains, backflow prevention, or sewage disposal. Some of these, like no hot water, can force a temporary closure until fixed.
minorCode MN Rule 4626.0725ACleaning and sanitizing
Official wording
Place fixed equipment to allow access for cleaning or, seal to adjoining equipment or walls.
Inspector’s notes
The caulking sealing the 3 basin sink to the wall in the dish area was observed molding and pulling away from the wall. Remove old caulking and replace with new seal. Maintain sealing between wall and fixed equipment in good condition at all times.
In plain English
Dishes, equipment, or surfaces that touch food were not properly washed, rinsed, and sanitized, or sanitizer was not at the right strength. Clean surfaces help stop germs from spreading to food.
Provide an approved sanitizing solution for storage of the wet wiping cloths that is free of food debris and visible soil.
Inspector’s notes
Sanitizer wiping cloth buckets were measured at 0PPM at the time of inspection. Chef immediately refreshed the sanitizer bucket to measure 200PPM chlorine. Ensure that sanitizer buckets are maintained at 50-200PPM chlorine sanitizer.
In plain English
A plain-English explanation is being prepared. The official wording is the authoritative record.
While TCS foods are cooling, keep containers uncovered, unstacked, and spread out.
Inspector’s notes
Pans of General Tao chicken were observed cooling with cling film covering the container entirely. Discussed with Owner that this can reduce the speed of cooling since the cling film holds the warm air and prevents cold air from cooling the food effectively. Owner pulled corners off the edges of the pans to allow cooling. Cool food completely uncovered or with covering ajar to allow for air movement to cool food faster. Retrain staff to cool foods uncovered.
In plain English
A plain-English explanation is being prepared. The official wording is the authoritative record.
Clean surfaces contacting non-TCS foods: • When surfaces may have been contaminated • At least once every 24 hours for consumer self-service utensils • Before restocking consumer self-service equipment and utensils • As often as needed to keep surfaces clean
Inspector’s notes
Inside of ice machines surfaces was observed soiled with some amounts of slime mold. Clean ice machine and maintain clean to sight and touch.
In plain English
A plain-English explanation is being prepared. The official wording is the authoritative record.
Use a consumer advisory to inform customers of the increased risk of consuming raw or undercooked animal foods.
Inspector’s notes
Consumer advisory is missing from the menu for a drink that is served with a raw egg white. Provided guidance for writing consumer advisory with emailed report. Use guidance to write consumer advisory warning consumers of potential risk of foodborne illness when consuming raw or undercooked animal products. Provide consumer advisory and ensure it is updated with any additions to menu.
In plain English
A plain-English explanation is being prepared. The official wording is the authoritative record.
Have an approved chlorine chemical sanitizer solution. The solution must have a minimum concentration of 50 ppm. The solution must also meet the temperature and pH requirements of this rule.
Inspector’s notes
Low Temperature Bar Dish Machine had sanitizer in the machine at the time of inspection, but was dispensing 0PPM chlorine. Discussed with Owner that they need to repair the machine before using and that the machine should be dispensing 50PPM chlorine according to the data plate. Discontinue use until the machine is fixed and use back dishwasher to wash all bar dishes. Send proof of repair to inspector.
In plain English
A plain-English explanation is being prepared. The official wording is the authoritative record.
Make sure all ready-to-eat foods and garnishes are not touched with bare hands.
Inspector’s notes
Employees were observed handling chopped green onions when sprinkling them over cooked dumplings before setting them on the counter for servers to take to the customers. Inspector spoke with Chef and discussed that food that is ready to eat cannot be touched with bare hands as it has a high risk of spreading foodborne illness directly to customers. There were no gloves on the cook line at the time of inspection and when asked where they were, Chef grabbed a box off of the server area and placed it on the cook line. Bartender was observed cutting limes with bare hands in the bar area. When told that they should not be touching food with bare hands and that they could use gloves, bartender said they did not have any gloves. Inspector instructed them to grab some gloves on the cook line. Inspector verbally went over different methods to avoid touching food that is ready to eat with bare hands, such as gloves, garnish picks, pre-slicing fruit wedges with gloves and then placing them on the glass with tongs, etc. Retrain employees to use gloves, spoons or other methods of adding spices, garnishes to food so that they are not touching food with their bare hands. Discard food that is touched with bare hands.
In plain English
A plain-English explanation is being prepared. The official wording is the authoritative record.
Food employees must clean their hands and exposed portions of their arms for 20 seconds, using soap in a handwashing sink that is properly equipped.
Inspector’s notes
Employee was observed washing hands for 5 seconds before returning to cook line to prepare food. Extend the length of time that hands are washed to 20 seconds so that all parts of the hands and wrists can be scrubbed to properly clean them before beginning food preparation. This was discussed with the Chef and Manager at the time of inspection. Retrain employees on proper handwashing procedures and ensure washing time is long enough to scrub all parts of the hands, wrists and part of the arms.
In plain English
A plain-English explanation is being prepared. The official wording is the authoritative record.
Food workers must wash their hands before starting food preparation tasks.
Inspector’s notes
Food employee was observed handling personal cell phone while on the cook line leaning over Prep Cooler 3, then proceeded to begin preparing an order without washing hands. Discussed with Chef that if employees handle personal phones, they need to wash hands before working with food. Chef intervened and told employee that they needed to wash hands. Retrain employees to wash hands when changing tasks and before working with food.
In plain English
A plain-English explanation is being prepared. The official wording is the authoritative record.
Cool cooked TCS food: • Within two hours from 135 to 70 degrees F, and • Within a total of six hours from 135 to 41 degrees F or less
Inspector’s notes
On the back countertop, there were 6 deep bus tub type bins of General Tao Chicken that had finished frying at 3:30PM according to the Chef. Each bin of chicken was measured between 78F and 90F at the time of inspection at 6:30PM. Discussed with Chef that foods that are hot need to be cooled from 135F to 70F or below in 2 hours, then from 70F or below to 41F or below in 4 hours. Inspector asked if Chef took any temperatures of the chicken when it was taken off the fryer or at any point after that and Chef had not taken any temperatures of any of the chicken cooling on the counter top. The first critical cooling time/temperature window had been missed, even allowing additional time for the chicken to cool from the fryer. Discussed with owner over the phone the situation and the cooling risks associated with improperly cooled foods that can make people sick and that the chicken cooled in this manner may not be not safe to serve to customers. Owner agreed over the phone to discard the chicken. Took temperatures in the presence of the Manager on site and Chef and relayed the owner's decision to discard. All 6 bins of chicken were observed discarded at that time. Retrain employees to cool food in shallow containers, under refrigeration, within required time and temperature frames to ensure that food is safely cooled.
In plain English
A plain-English explanation is being prepared. The official wording is the authoritative record.
Provide and maintain a chemical sanitizer generated by a device on site at the food establishment that complies with 7US Code 136 to 136q, 40CFR.152.500 and 156.10, displays the US EPA device manufacturing facility registration number on the device and is operated and maintained according to manufacturer's instructions.
Inspector’s notes
Sanitizer bucket dispenser in the dish room was observed with a sticker on the dispenser that stated "Quat". When Chef dispensed sanitizer into bucket it was measured with the inspector's quat tape and it was 0PPM at the time. When inspector looked at the chemical hooked up to the dispenser, it was a chlorine in a large 5 gallon bucket. After testing the same bucket with facility's chlorine test strip, it was also measured at 0PPM. After looking around for other available sanitizers, there was commercial bleach available that inspector and chef mixed to 100PPM by mixing one capful of bleach to 4 liters of water. Two buckets were placed on the floor of the cook line to sanitize the cook line. Retrain employees to test sanitizer buckets and refresh them when they are below the minimum chlorine concentration required on the chemical label. Dish machine in the front bar area for washing glasses had an empty jug of chlorine sanitizer and there was no other chlorine sanitizer to replenish it with. It was discussed with front of house Manager that they should not use the dish machine in the front until chlorine sanitizer can be provided to it by the chemical supplier and measures 50PPM available chlorine before using. Retrain employees to monitor dish machine sanitizer levels more frequently so that the machine is adequately sanitizing dishes.
In plain English
A plain-English explanation is being prepared. The official wording is the authoritative record.
Store in-use food preparation and serving utensils only on clean, sanitized surfaces.
Inspector’s notes
Tongs were observed stored on oven and fryer door handles at the time of inspection. Inspector explained to Chef that tongs can be soiled by pants and shoes at that height and is not a clean place for them to be stored. Instead, tongs can be placed on prep counters, utensil spaces on grills or in buckets, and the utensils are washed, rinsed, and sanitized every 4 hours. Chef cleared tongs from the area immediately and placed new tongs on the work surfaces that are able to be cleaned. Retrain staff to keep ready to use and in use tongs on approved surfaces.
In plain English
A plain-English explanation is being prepared. The official wording is the authoritative record.
Thaw TCS food by one of the following methods: • Inside a refrigerator • Kept completely under running water of 70 degrees F or less. The food must remain at 41 degrees F or less. • In a microwave oven • As part of the cooking process
Inspector’s notes
A bag of raw meat was observed thawing in the food preparation sinks at the time of inspection. Outside temperature of the bag was measured at 52F at the time of inspection. Discussed with Manager that thawing must be done under refrigeration or the meat must be thawed under a continuous stream of cold running water to be thawed safely because even though the inside is still frozen, the outside of the raw meat can grow bacteria at these warmer temperatures. Inside of product was still frozen below 32F. Retrain employees on correct thawing methods for raw animal products and employ safe methods.
In plain English
A plain-English explanation is being prepared. The official wording is the authoritative record.
General Tao Chicken was observed cooling in deep 6 inch bus tub type bins at room temperature at the time of inspection. Discussed with Chef and Manager that cooling these foods should be done quickly and in thin layers to prevent bacteria from growing that could make people sick. Inspector showed two types of thin pans no greater than 2 inches that chicken could be cooled on in the Walk In Cooler. Showed Chef that the chicken should be placed on the pans in thin layer as well and not heaped onto the pan to ensure that food would cool quickly. Retrain staff to employ effective cooling methods for food that is cooked and cooled.
In plain English
A plain-English explanation is being prepared. The official wording is the authoritative record.
Keep all cold TCS foods at 41 degrees F or colder under mechanical refrigeration.
Inspector’s notes
Cooked General Tao Chicken was observed overfilling its pan in the upper part of Prep Cooler 2 and was measured at 52F. This chicken was pulled from the cooler to be ready for service. Discussed with Chef that TCS (time/temperature control for safety) foods need to be kept cold at 41F or below to prevent growth of harmful bacteria that can make people sick. Inspector instructed Chef to discard remaining chicken after 4 hours from when it was pulled from the cooler. Retrain staff to fill containers in prep coolers below the fill line to help keep them cold and maintain all cold, TCS foods at 41F or below so they are safe.
In plain English
A plain-English explanation is being prepared. The official wording is the authoritative record.