Fredericksburg Health Inspections: 22 Violations At 1 Restaurant

FREDERICKSBURG, VA — Several facilities in the Fredericksburg area recorded violations during recent inspections from the Rappahannock Area Health District. Inspectors conducted the most recent visits between March 7 and March 14.

In Virginia, all food service locations are supposed to be inspected at least once per year. Facilities with higher risk factors may be inspected as often as four times per year, according to the Virginia Department of Health.

Violations at restaurants typically focus on factors that can contribute to food contamination. The local health department can also perform a re-inspection to ensure that possible violations have been corrected. Sometimes, the follow-up inspection only considers the most important "priority" violations.

For every observed violation, the inspector provides a specific corrective action that can be completed to rectify the violation. Sometimes these are simple, and violations can be corrected during the course of the inspection.

Depending on the results of the inspection, the health department can pursue several actions.

It can issue a permit for the restaurant to continue serving food, they can schedule a follow-up inspection to determine if violations have been rectified, or officials can temporarily shut down an establishment until certain issues are solved.

The Virginia Department of Health only recommends restaurants have their permits suspended when "the continued operation of the foodservice presents a substantial and imminent threat to the public health."

Here are the most recent violations as listed by the Rappahannock Area Health Department:

Red Crab, 1801 Carl D. Silver Parkway Fredericksburg, VA 22401

Date inspected: March 13, 2024

Total violations: 9

• Observed throughout the kitchen numerous open top employee beverages.
• Observed a bowl sitting in the basin one of the kitchen handsinks.
• Observed the top portion of the ice machine requires deep cleaning, observed black mold like growth/staining.
• The following foods were found cold holding out of temperature at 60 degrees F. 1. raw shrimp 2. cooked crab 3. hard boiled eggs. Foods were relocated to the walk in freezer for rapid cooling.
• Observed cleaning spray bottles unlabeled in the front/bar area.
• Observed improper thawing of fish. Fish was observed thawing in containers of sitting water. Observed knives being stored in between prep tables and equipment on the cook line.
• The following non-food contact surfaces require cleaning: 1. racks holding foods in the walk in cooler 2. sides of equipment in the front and back kitchen area
• Observed walls of the back kitchen and floor drains that require cleaning.
• Observed employee personal belongings throughout the kitchen (coffee creamer, cough medicine, beverages).

Tapa Rio, 1101 Sophia Street Fredericksburg, VA 22401

Date inspected: March 12, 2024
Total violations: 15

• On two occasions observed food employee lather their hands under running water. Hands were not effectively washed due to handsoap being flushed down the drain. Employees were instructed to rewash their hands.
• Observed hot water at the cookline handwashing sink (85 degrees F) and men's toilet room (72 degrees F) less than 100 degrees F.
• Observed food contact surfaces of the meat slicer soiled. Clean and sanitize meat slicer prior to next use.
• Observed the in use low temperature dishwasher not adequately sanitizing food contact equipment.
• Food employees' boneless chicken is partially cooked to approximately 130 degrees F, cooled and completed final cooking upon a customer's order. The person in charge could not provide written procedures and health department was not informed of the procedures.
• Observed the following TCS foods cold holding at improper temperatures in the 2 door reach in cooler overnight: 6-8 bags of shredded mozzarella cheese (44-46 degrees F) and overfilled container of portioned pasta (43-44 degrees F).
• Observed the reach in cooler is overfilled with products or stacked upon each other. The person in charge voluntarily discarded the foods.
• Observed multiple unlabeled chemical spray bottles. Instructed the person in charge to label them which was not completed during the inspection.
• Observed cooked mussels and raw salmon thawed in the reduced oxygen packaging (ROP). The person in charge discarded the foods during the inspection.
• Observed the following in poor repair: burned of light under the hood, 2 door reach in cooler is not adequately cold holding TCS foods and ice build-up in the back of prep cooler #2
• Observed accumulation of debris on the following nonfood contact surfaces: Fan on the floor by the cookline, top of dishwasher, interior of fryer cabinet, and pizza oven including tubing.
• Observed the men's toilet room door is not tight sealing.
• Observed absence of a covered receptacle in the female toilet room.
• Observed presence of unused equipment on the premises including in the back storage area.
• Observed patio seating in absence of overhead protection during service of meals to guests.

Potbelly Sandwich Shop, 1240 Carl D. Silver Pkwy. Fredericksburg, VA 22401

Date inspected: March 11, 2024

Total violations: 4

• Observed a container of clean utensils stored (above the 3 compartment sink) with the food contact surface facing upwards.
• Observed cutting boards of the prep stations stained and scored.
• Observed the non food contact surfaces of the cooling prept tables require cleaning.
• Observed a stack of stainless steel sheet trays with accumulation of blackened debris on corners and edges.

Arby's #7909, 9865 Patriot Highway Fredericksburg, VA 22408

Date inspected: March 12, 2024
Total violations: 5

• Observed a hot shot pest control device under the three-compartment sink. Insect device was discarded during the inspection.
• Observed the following non food contact surfaces in need of cleaning: 1.Interior of fryer cabinets 2. Upsplash of both soda machines 3. Exterior of all cooking equipment 4. Shelving
• Observed long hose attached to a spray nozzle attached to the mop sink, without correct backflow prevention. The mop sink had a vacuum breaker, however, a dual check valve is required for continuous pressure. Spray nozzle was removed during the inspection.
• Observed the following physcial facilities in poor repair: 1. Floor tile missing under fryers 2. Hole in the wall in dry storage area 3. Reseal around three compartment sink
• Observed floors, walls and ceilings throughout the facility in need of cleaning.

Peter Chang, LLC, 1771 Carl D. Silver Pkwy Fredericksburg, VA 22401

Date inspected: March 7, 2024

Total violations: 12

• Person in charge was unable to provide an employee health policy.
• Person in charge was unable to provide written procedures for how the facility cleans up bodily fluids.
• Observed food debris inside the hand sink adjacent to the cook line.
• Observed raw meats in the walk in cooler stored above boxes of broccoli. During the inspection person in charge instructed food employees to relocate the broccoli.
• Observed the same food employee rewash their gloves twice. Discussed violations with the person in charge.
• Observed pest control traps (mice traps) brought in by the facility instead of seeking pest control which is required by regulations.
• Observed raw shrimp thawing out room temperature.
• Observed evidence and harborage conditions of pest in the facility. Droppings were found on non food contact surfaces, also observed debris and openings along the backdoor of the facility.
• Observed numerous spoons stored clean with the food contact surface facing upwards.
• Observed the following equipment in poor repair: 1. extremely rusted shelving throughout the facility 2. heavy build up of ice inside the deep freezers 3. extremely damaged swinging doors leading into the kitchen 4. extremely damaged doorway of the walk in cooler.
• Observed cutting boards of the prep stations heavily scored, scratched and stained.
• Observed walls, floors and ceilings throughout the kitchen and side room require cleaning. The dry storage area and area by the deep freezers in particular require an extremely deep cleaning.

Vinny's Italian Grill & Pizzeria, 11105 Leavells Road Unit 1 Fredericksburg, VA 22407

Date inspected: March 7, 2024
Total violations: 22

• The person in charge could not provide written proof that employees are aware of the employee health policy.
• The food establishment does not have written procedures for cleaning up vomiting or diarrheal events that happen in the facility.
• Improper handwashing procedures observed. Employee washed their hands at the handwashing sink near the prep sink for less than 10 seconds.
• Observed a food employee handle soiled dishes then clean dishes without first washing their hands. Employee was instructed to wash their hands.
• Observed a food employee handle ready to eat bread, chicken, tomoatoes, and lettuce with bare hands. The sandwich was discarded during inspection.
• Signs or posters that notify food employees to wash their hands are not provided at the handwashing sinks in the following locations: 1) women restroom, 2) men restroom, 3) employees restroom located in the kitchen, 4) handwashing sink by the prep sink.
• Observed raw shell eggs stored near ready to eat deli meat in the walk in cooler. Eggs were relocated.
• Observed flour used for chicken wings stored in prep area not refrigerated and through discussion with person in charge the flour is not sifted and is discarded after around 10 hours when the store closes.
• The facility does not have a date marking system for time/temperature control for safety (TCS) foods.
• The ready-to-eat commercially processed food in the walk in cooler was not properly dated for disposition after opening.
• Observed a large uncovered stainless steel bowl of cooked sausages (84 degrees F) stored near the perp sink. Food employee was not able to communicate the time the sausage reached 135 degrees F to ensue the food is cooling properly.
• Observed the following: 1) raw hamburger (34 degrees F) thawing at room temperature on the perp unit, 2) reduced oxygen packaged (ROP) salmon in walk-in refrigerator, pulled to thaw <2 hours prior, still observed frozen, not removed from ROP packaging. Salmon packaging was cut open during inspection.
• Observed containers of food stored directly on the floor in the walk-in freezer and the walk in cooler.
• Observed employees in the back of the house preparing food without proper hair restraints.
• Observed boxes of single-use equipment stored on floor in dry storage area
• Chlorine test kit available onsite to check the concentration of the sanitizer solution used for food contact surfaces expired in February 2023.
• The following nonfood contact surfaces were noted with an accumulation of grime and debris. 1) the interior and exterior of the cold holding units, 2) shelving units, 3) the interior of the ovens, 4) light shileds, 5) the door of the ice machine.
• No backflow prevention device was observed on the ice machine that is directily connected to the main water line.
• Employee restroom door located in the kitchen is not self-closing.
• The following areas were noted in need of cleaning: the walk-in cooler floor, the walk-in-freezer floor, ceiling vents, ceiling tiles, floors, and walls throughout the facility.
• Observed the ceiling above the ice machine located in the dry storage area to be absorbent, not smooth, and not easily cleanable.
• Observed employees' personal belongings stored next to food and equipment throughout the facility.

The following facilities did not record any violations:

• Five Guys, 1515 Stafford Market Place Suite #117 Stafford, VA 22556
• La Bella Pizza, 2601 Salem Church Road #109 Fredericksburg, VA 22407