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Cincinnati, OH

The Empanada's Box

1819 Elm St, #C

Last inspected Sep 8, 2026 · View map ↗ · Compare ↗

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Not In Compliance
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The full inspection history

1 inspection

ROUTINE - CRITICAL CONTROL POINT

Sep 8, 2026

Not In Compliance

12 recorded violations

notedCode 4.5(A)(1)Contamination

Official wording

4.5(A)(1) - VII. Protection from Contamination - Equipment Food-Contact Surfaces and Utensils: Clean to Sight and Touch

Inspector’s notes

Food-contact surfaces were not clean to the sight and touch. Soiled can opener blade, soiled bulk food containers

In plain English

Food was stored or handled in a way that could let germs or other material get into it, such as raw meat stored above ready-to-eat food or uncovered food. Cross-contamination is a common cause of foodborne illness.

More about food not protected from contamination
notedCode 5.1(O)(2)Handwashing

Official wording

5.1(O)(2) - III. Preventing Contamination by Hands - Using a handwashing sink - Operation and Maintenance

Inspector’s notes

Handwashing facility is being used for purposes other than handwashing. Discontinue storing scouring pads and buckets etc. in hand sinks

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.

More about handwashing problems
notedCode 6.4(A)Facility maintenance

Official wording

6.4(A) - Repairing

Inspector’s notes

The physical facilities were not maintained in good repair. Observed sludge build up in basement. Basement leaking during heavy rains--Repair

In plain English

Floors, walls, ceilings, lighting, ventilation, or garbage areas needed repair or cleaning. These are usually less urgent than food-handling problems but still need to be fixed.

More about building upkeep issues
notedCode 4.4(P)Chemicals

Official wording

4.4(P) - Warewashing equipment: Determining Chemical Sanitizer Concentration

Inspector’s notes

Sanitizer concentration is not being monitored. No chlorine dispensed at final rinse of dish machine. Machine primed and working

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.

More about chemicals stored or used unsafely
notedCode 3.2(C)(1)(H)Contamination

Official wording

3.2(C)(1)(H) - VII. Protection from Contamination - Packaged and Unpackaged Food - Separation, Packaging, and Segregation

Inspector’s notes

Food is stored unwrapped or in uncovered containers. Observed uncovered foods on rolling cart--may place a clean tray atop cooling foods

In plain English

Food was stored or handled in a way that could let germs or other material get into it, such as raw meat stored above ready-to-eat food or uncovered food. Cross-contamination is a common cause of foodborne illness.

More about food not protected from contamination
notedCode 3.4(F)(1)(b)Food temperature

Official wording

3.4(F)(1)(b) - VI. Time/Temperature Controlled Safety Food - Time/Temperature Controlled for Safety Food - Cold Holding

Inspector’s notes

TCS foods were being held at temperatures >41° F. Observed cooked rice and corn held at room temperature (!20 and 114 degrees F)--Moved to cooler

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.

More about food kept at an unsafe temperature
notedCode 3.4(H)(1)Food temperature

Official wording

3.4(H)(1) - VI. Time/Temperature Controlled Safety Food - Ready-to-eat, TCS - disposition

Inspector’s notes

Ready-to-eat, TCS food was not discarded by the date mark, or was undated and not discarded or was not discarded when the date mark exceeded the required time/temperature combination. Observed expired Philly Meat--discarded. PIC to assure all TCS foods are disposed of as per Ohio Food Code

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.

More about food kept at an unsafe temperature
notedCode 2.4(C)(18)Employee health and hygiene

Official wording

2.4(C)(18) - I. Employee Health - Written Procedures for Cleaning Up Vomiting and Diarrheal Events

Inspector’s notes

No/inadequate written procedures for response to vomiting/diarrheal events. Information provided

In plain English

This covers things like hair restraints, jewelry, clean clothing, eating or drinking in food prep areas, touching ready-to-eat food with bare hands, or not having a sick-employee policy.

More about employee hygiene or health policy issues
notedCode 2.4(B)(2)(p)Employee health and hygiene

Official wording

2.4(B)(2)(p) - I. Employee Health - Demonstration of Knowledge

Inspector’s notes

The person in charge shall be able to explain how the PIC, food employees, and conditional employees comply with reporting responsibilities and exclusion or restriction of food employees. Implement and maintain Employee Health Policy

In plain English

This covers things like hair restraints, jewelry, clean clothing, eating or drinking in food prep areas, touching ready-to-eat food with bare hands, or not having a sick-employee policy.

More about employee hygiene or health policy issues
notedCode 4.8(E)(1)(3)Equipment and utensils

Official wording

4.8(E)(1)(3) - Single-Service Articles and Single-Use Articles - Storage

Inspector’s notes

Single-service and single-use articles were not stored in the original protective package or were stored by means that did not protect them from contamination. Discontinue storing containers of disposable food containers etc directly on floor

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.

More about equipment or utensil issues
notedCode 3.5(C)(2)(e)Food source and labeling

Official wording

3.5(C)(2)(e) - Food Labeling - Allergens

Inspector’s notes

A food label did not include the name of the food source of each major food allergen contained in a food unless the food source is already part of the common or usual name of the respective ingredient. This includes all frozen Mamosas and cookies

In plain English

Food came from an unapproved source, was missing required date marks or labels, or was past its use-by date. Knowing where food came from and how old it is helps prevent illness.

More about food source, dating, or labeling problems
notedCode 3.4(G)(1)Food temperature

Official wording

3.4(G)(1) - VI. Time/Temperature Controlled Safety Food - Ready-to-eat, TCS - date marking

Inspector’s notes

Refrigerated, ready-to-eat, TCS food that is prepared in the food facility and held refrigerated for more than 24 hours is not properly date marked. Observed three trays of cooked Pork with no Discard Date. PIC to assure all prepared TCS foods held > 24 hours have a DISCARD DATE. Best practice is to document both open/prep and use by dates on each item

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.

More about food kept at an unsafe temperature

Official record from Cincinnati Health Department, Sep 8, 2026 · Original source

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