minorCode MN Rule 4626.1080AWater, plumbing, and sewage
Official wording
Have at least one service sink or curbed cleaning area with a floor drain. The drain must be in a convenient location for disposing of mop water.
Inspector’s notes
NO MOP SINK AVAILABLE ON MAIN FLOOR. PROVIDE A MOP SINK FOR KITCHEN FLOOR. NOTE: SUBMIT COMPLETE FOOD PLAN PRIOR.
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 4626.1080AWater, plumbing, and sewage
Official wording
Have at least one service sink or curbed cleaning area with a floor drain. The drain must be in a convenient location for disposing of mop water.
Inspector’s notes
NO MOP SINK AVAILABLE ON MAIN FLOOR. PROVIDE A MOP SINK FOR KITCHEN FLOOR. NOTE: DO NOT FORGET TO SUBMIT COMPLETE FOOD PLANS PRIOR INSTALLATION.
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.
Keep all cold TCS foods at 41 degrees F or colder under mechanical refrigeration.
Inspector’s notes
OBSERVED FOOD ABOVE 41F DURING COLD HOLDING INSIDE REACH IN COOLER. FOR EXAMPLE: BUTTER AT 47F AND MILK AT 43.2F. SEE TEMP CHART FOR MORE FOOD ITEMS AND LOCATIONS. TROUBLESHOOT ANY REFRIGERATED UNIT THAT IS NOT KEEPING FOOD AT THE RIGHT TEMPERATURE ( INSTRUCTED PIC TO TURNED DOWN SETTINGS FOR NOW. CALL REPAIR COMPANY AS NEEDED.
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.
criticalCode MN Rule 4626.0040DPermits, training, and postings
Official wording
The person in charge must notify the regulatory authority of any complaint from a consumer having or suspected of having diarrhea or vomiting, norovirus, hepatitis A virus, Salmonella spp., Shigella spp., Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli, or other enteric bacterial, viral, or parasitic pathogens.
Inspector’s notes
PERSON IN CHARGE DID NOT KNOW HOW TO HANDLE CUSTOMER’S COMPLAINTS RELATED TO FOOD BORNE ILLNESSES. YOU MUST REPORT TO MDH AT 1-877-FOOD-ILL ANY CUSTOMER’S COMPLAINT RELATED TO FOOD BORNE ILLNESSES (E.G: VOMITING, DIARRHEA, ETC). ALSO SHARE THIS PHONE NUMBER WITH AFFECTED CUSTOMER.
In plain English
A required permit, food safety certificate, trained manager, or posted sign was missing or not current. These show the business is following the rules and has trained staff.
majorCode MN Rule 4626.0030BCQPermits, training, and postings
Official wording
The person in charge must be able to explain: • Their responsibility for preventing the spread of foodborne illness by a food worker • The symptoms associated with a foodborne illness • How food workers must report illness symptoms and diseases • When a food worker must be excluded from work or restricted from working with food • When a food worker can return to work
Inspector’s notes
THE PERSON IN CHARGE DID NOT KNOW ABOUT THE 24 HOURS / SYMPTOM FREE EXCLUSION REQUIREMENT TO RETURN TO WORK FOR EMPLOYEES HAVING BEEN EXCLUDED WITH SYMPTOMS SUCH AS VOMITING AND / OR DIARRHEA, ETC. MAKE SURE EMPLOYEE HEALTH TRAINING TAKE PLACE TO INSTRUCT FOOD WORKERS TO STAY HOME FOR AT LEAST 24 HOURS “SYMPTOM FREE” BEFORE RETURNING TO WORK. EDUCATION WAS PROVIDED ON SITE. HANDOUT ATTACHED TO YOUR EMAIL.
In plain English
A required permit, food safety certificate, trained manager, or posted sign was missing or not current. These show the business is following the rules and has trained staff.
Keep a log to record employee illness symptoms. Have it available upon request.
Inspector’s notes
NO EMPLOYEE ILLNESS LOG AVAILABLE DURING INSPECTION. MAINTAIN IN THE FACILITY A LOG TO BE ABLE TO RECORD REQUIRED ILLNESSES / SYMPTOMS, EXCLUSION DATES, ETC. BE SURE THE PERSON IN CHARGE CAN LOCATE THE LOG UPON REQUEST BY HEALTH INSPECTORS. A SAMPLE IS ATTACHED TO THIS REPORT.
In plain English
An issue that does not fit the common categories. Check the official wording for details.
Before using Time as a Public Health Control for TCS food develop, follow and keep written procedures onsite.
Inspector’s notes
ESTABLISHMENT WAS USING THE CONCEPT OF TIME AS A PUBLIC HEALTH CONTROL (TPHC) TO KEEP TCS FOOD OUT OF MECHANICAL REFRIGERATION. FOR EXAMPLE: breakfast sausage. OPERATOR WAS NOT ABLE TO PROVIDE WRITTEN PROCEDURE THAT DESCRIBE HOW TO USE TPHC AT THIS ESTABLISHMENT. PROVIDE A WRITTEN DOCUMENT WITH A CLEAR PROCEDURE ON HOW TO USE TPHC. GUIDANCE DOCUMENT / HANDOUT IS ATTACHED TO THIS REPORT. HAVE WRITTEN DOCUMENT AVAILABLE FOR YEARLY REVIEW.
In plain English
An issue that does not fit the common categories. Check the official wording for details.
NO HAND SOAP AVAILABLE AT HANDWASHING SINK IN THE KITCHEN. KEEP HANDWASHING SINKS FULLY STOCKED. PIC PROVIDED SOAP DURING INSPECTION.
In plain English
Staff were not washing their hands when required, or a handwashing sink was blocked, missing soap or paper towels, or used for something else. Hands are one of the most common ways germs reach food.
Post a sign at all handwashing sinks used by employees to remind them to wash their hands.
Inspector’s notes
HAND WASHING SIGN WAS MISSING AT KITCHEN SINK AND RESTROOM. PROVIDE A SIGN FOR EACH SINK USED BY FOOD WORKERS.
In plain English
Staff were not washing their hands when required, or a handwashing sink was blocked, missing soap or paper towels, or used for something else. Hands are one of the most common ways germs reach food.
Provide sufficient equipment for cooling, heating, and hot and cold holding of TCS food.
Inspector’s notes
HOT FOOD CATER IN. PROVIDE A KITCHEN GRADE (ANSI, NSF, ETC.) POWERED HOT HOLDING UNIT TO MAINTAIN HOT FOODS HOT DURING SERVICE.
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 4626.0506AEquipment and utensils
Official wording
Food service equipment must be certified for sanitation. The certification must be by an American National Standards Institute (ANSI) accredited program.
Inspector’s notes
OBSERVED HOUSEHOLD REFRIGERATOR IN THE KITCHEN. OBTAIN KITCHEN GRADE EQUIPMENT SUCH AS NSF OR ANSI CERTIFIED TO REPLACE HOUSEHOLD UNIT.
In plain English
Equipment, utensils, thermometers, cutting boards, or single-use items were not in good condition, not the right type, or not stored properly.
minorCode MN Rule 4626.0033APermits, training, and postings
Official wording
The business must employ at least one valid Minnesota Food Protection Manager's certification (CFPM). Find more information on the Minnesota Department of Health web page.
Inspector’s notes
NO STATE REGISTERED CFPM CERTIFICATE AVAILABLE. GO TO AN APPROVED SERVSAFE CLASS AND THEN SUBMIT DIPLOMA TO MINNESOTA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH. ONCE YOU RECEIVE YOUR STATE CERTIFICATE, PLEASE POST IT ON A VISIBLE PLACE. https://www.health.state.mn.us/communities/environment/food/cfpm/index.html
In plain English
A required permit, food safety certificate, trained manager, or posted sign was missing or not current. These show the business is following the rules and has trained staff.
Have a thin-tipped food thermometer easily available to measure the internal temperature of thin pieces of food.
Inspector’s notes
NO FOOD THERMOMETER AVAILABLE. PROVIDE A “THIN PROBE” THERMOMETER TO BE ABLE TO ASSESS INTERNAL TEMPERATURES OF FOOD.
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 4626.0495Cleaning and sanitizing
Official wording
Non-food contact surfaces of equipment must be made of materials which are corrosion-resistant, non-absorbent, and smooth. Remove equipment with non-food contact surfaces made of other materials.
Inspector’s notes
OBSERVED ORIGINAL CLEAR PLASTIC LINING AT THREE LOWBOY COOLERS. REMOVE MANUFACTURER’S PLASTIC WRAP ON NEW EQUIPMENT.
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.