County health looks at Sonic, QuikTrip and Sunrise Café

In November the county health department inspected three Maricopa eating establishments, Sonic, QuikTrip and Sunrise Café.

The inspections are completely random and are aimed at ensuring that all the proper safety steps are being taken to maintain consumer safety.

To ensure consumer safety, the department can issue violations that are either critical or non-critical. Critical violations must be fixed immediately and affect a location’s score; non-critical violations must be fixed within 90 days.

Grades are determined based on the number of violations; an E is the highest possible score an establishment can receive. Other scores are S, U and N. If an establishment receives a U or N, they cannot operate until violations are addressed, and they risk being shut down permanently by the state.

The restaurants inspected and their scores are as follows:

Sonic: grade E with non-critical violations

Physical facilities: Leaking water from three-compartment sink’s faucet and leak in drainpipe that needs repair. Re-sand cutting board by ice cream prep refrigerator; cut marks are getting excessive. Floor needs to be sealed so it’s non-absorbent, smooth and easily cleanable.

QuikTrip: grade E with non-critical violations

Hand cleaning: No paper towels at hand washing sink.

Sunrise Café: grade S with critical violations

Potentially hazardous food: Temperature is one of the prime factors that controls the growth of bacteria. Many pathogen and spoilage bacteria are prevented from multiplying to microbiologically significant levels if properly refrigerated at 41 F or lower. Observed foods in the small prep holding at 44-45 F at 11 a.m. Corrective action: Discussed various remedies to keep these foods at proper temperatures. Since only food temperature, not time was abused, food items were not discarded

Packaged and unpackaged food; separation, packaging and segregation: Cross contamination can be avoided by separating raw animal foods from ready-to-eat foods. Observed improperly stored raw animal foods stored directly above ready-to-eat foods. (chicken above carrot cake.) Corrective action: Went over proper storage procedures.

Photo by Michael K. Rich