Leesburg Health Inspections: Expired Milk, Missing Soap And Hair Nets

LEESBURG, VA — Several restaurants around Leesburg and western Loudoun County recorded violations during recent inspections from the health department. Inspectors conducted the most recent restaurant visits between Jan. 10 and Jan. 16.

COVID-19 restrictions around the state have disappeared, so health inspectors have returned to conduct most restaurant inspections in person. However, some visits, such as those for training purposes, can be conducted virtually.

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.

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.

Here are the most recent restaurant inspections in the Leesburg area, according to the Loudoun County Health Department.

• Monk's BBQ, 251 N. 21st Street Purcellville, VA 20132
  • Date inspected: Jan. 10
  • Total violations: 2
    • Observed chicken hot holding at improper temperatures. Chicken was observed at 128F, 130F, 131F. Hot hold time/ temperature control for safety foods at 135F or above.
    • Observed boxes of single service food containers stored on the ground. Cleaned equipment and utensils, laundered linens, and single-service and single-use articles shall be stored: 1. In a clean, dry location; 2. Where they are not exposed to splash, dust, or other contamination; and 3. At least six inches above the floor.
• Koyo Ramen, 609 E Main St #AA Purcellville, VA 20132
  
  • Date inspected: Jan. 10
  • Total violations: 6
    • At time of inspection, facility did not have hot water at kitchen hand washing sink, kitchen dish machine, or 3-compartment sink. Hand sink observed at 60F, dish machine observed at 58F. EHS questioned the Person In Charge (PIC) regarding the facility having hot water. PIC went to water heater. After PIC went to water heater, all water fixtures in the facility had hot running water. Hot water generation and distribution systems shall meet the peak hot water demands throughout the food establishment.
    • Observed in-use utensils in a mini warmer in standing water at 65F. Also observed utensils in cloudy standing water at 69F. If storing in-use utensils in water, ensure the water is maintained at 135F or in running water of sufficient velocity to flush particulates to a drain.
    • Observed food items stored on the ground in the walk in refrigerator and in the walk in freezer. To protect from potential contamination, ensure food is stored at least 6 inches off the ground.
    • After conversation, it was determined that the facility was utilizing time as a public health control for tapioca pearls. Pearls were not marked or otherwise identified to indicate the time that is four hours past the point in time when the food is removed from temperature control. The food shall be marked or otherwise identified to indicate the time that is four hours past the point in time when the food is removed from temperature control and written procedures shall be prepared in advance, maintained in the food establishment.
    • Observed raw chicken stored over rice and raw pork in the walk in refrigerator. Food shall be protected from cross-contamination by separating raw proteins from ready to eat (RTE) foods, and separating raw proteins from one another by arranging from lowest internal cook temperature to highest internal Cook temperature.
    • At time of inspection, facility was unable to provide a verifiable employee health policy. Food employees and conditional employees are to be informed in a verifiable manner of their responsibility to report in accordance with law, to the person in charge, information about their health and activities as they relate to diseases that are transmissible through food. Person In Charge (PIC) stated it was in a locked office that they are unable to open.
• Patama Thai Kitchen, 101 S. Maple Ave, Ste E Purcellville, VA 20132
  
  • Date inspected: Jan. 10
  • Total violations: 1
    • At time of inspection, hand washing sink was observed blocked by dishes in the sink. Ensure hand washing sinks are accessible at all times for employees to wash their hands.
• Meriwether Godsey At Foxcroft School, 22407 Foxhound Ln Middleburg, VA 20117
  
  • Date inspected: Jan. 11
  • Total violations: 1
    • Single service items observed in boxes on floor of dry storage room. Single service items need to be stored 6" off ground to protect from contamination. Person in charge stated that racks would be put under said items.
• Tremolo Bar, 19 E. Washington St Middleburg, VA 20117
  
  • Date inspected: Jan. 11
  • Total violations: 1
    • Observed: In the lower prep area the hand sink is blocked with dishmachine racks and there are cleaning implements in the basin of the sink. Maintain the handsink for handwashing only. The PIC removed the dish racks and the cleaning implements were removed to allow accessibility to handsink. Corrected at inspection.
• A.T. Eats, 43510 Squirrel Ridge Place Leesburg, VA 20176
  
  • Date inspected: Jan. 11
  • Total violations: 2
    • Stand up reach in fridge improperly maintaining temperature at 46F.
    • The water tank inlet for potable water filling is open. The cap/cover is missing.
• Rebellion Bourbon Bar & Kitchen, 1 N. King Street Leesburg, VA 20175
  
  • Date inspected: Jan. 11
  • Total violations: 3
    • Observed reduced oxygen packaged fish in the walk in refrigerator thawing improperly. Fish was not removed from reduced oxygen packaged environment prior to thawing. Fish has a label indicating that it is to be kept frozen until time of use shall be removed from the reduced oxygen environment prior to thawing.
    • Observed beef (122F), cheese sauce (126F), rice (117F), and mashed potatoes (119F) hot holding at improper temperature. Hot hold time/temperature control for safety foods at 135F or above.
    • Observed employee at the bar dump unused beverages into the hand washing sink. Ensure hand washing sinks are used for hand washing only.
• Hangry Joe's Hot Chicken & Wings, 522 E Market St Leesburg, VA 20176
  
  • Date inspected: Jan. 12
  • Total violations: 10
    • Duties of the person in charge (PIC) are not being performed. PIC duties include ensuring employees conduct proper hand washing, date labeling, rotating of expired product, employee health and proper handling/temperature control of time/temperature control for safety (TCS) foods. Oversight of these duties must be performed.
    • EHS observed an employee wash dirty dishes, and then handle clean dishes that had been sanitized without washing their hands before handling the sanitized dishes. Food employees shall clean their hands after handling soiled equipment/utensils and immediately before handling clean/sanitized equipment/utensils.
    • EHS observed the following in the walk-in cooler: 1 Gallon jug of milk with an expiration date of 12/31/23, 5 half gallon containers of Buttermilk with an expiration date of 12/21/2023, and 9 half gallon containers of buttermilk with an expiration date of 12/08/2023. Fluid milk and milk products shall be obtained from sources that comply with Grade A food standards. Fluid Milk and Milk products are no longer Grade A once they have passed the expiration date that is printed on the container. PIC voluntarily discarded all expired containers of milk & buttermilk during the inspection.
    • To-go containers of Mac-n-Cheese, and coleslaw were found stored on top of a microwave on the line and temped at improper temperature (48F). TCS foods that are RTE must be maintained at 41F or less. These foods were prepped earlier this morning - PIC moved these containers to cold hold in the low boy cooler on the line. EHS discussed with PIC that these foods should be placed under refrigeration of 41F or less once they have been prepped and portioned and not stored at room temperature.
    • Containers of Mac-n-Cheese and coleslaw that are prepped, and are kept longer than 24 hours (per management) are not date marked. When keeping TCS/RTE foods longer than 24 hours, the date that the food was prepared/opened, or a discard date not to exceed 7 days from the date that the food item was prepared/opened must be labeled on the food item or its container. Date label these containers when they are prepped so that product rotation/expiration is tracked.
    • Spray bottles observed in various locations around the kitchen/front counter containing different cleaners observed with no labeling/information. When taking toxic materials (cleaners) from bulk supplies, the common name of the material must be labeled on the working container. Label all cleaners/spray bottles with their common name.
    • EHS observed improper sealing of the outer back door (left door when in the kitchen) to the kitchen. Light is able to be seen along the entire bottom of the door. Food establishments shall be protected against the entry of rodents and insects by solid, self-closing, tight-fitting doors. Repair the door so that insects and rodents do not have access or entry into the establishment.
    • EHS observed several employee jackets & hats hung around the kitchen in prep areas, single-use (to-go) container storage areas and dry goods storage areas. Foods, equipment, single-use articles, utensils etc. shall be protected from sources of contamination by separating employee's personal items and keeping them within designated areas that are away from food, prep areas, utensils, equipment etc. PIC moved all the employee items to a rack that houses chemicals in the back of the kitchen.
    • Wet wiping cloths observed throughout the kitchen in use, and stored on counters and prep surfaces. Wet wiping cloths used to clean/sanitize surfaces must be held in between uses in a sanitizing solution. PIC removed all thee wet wiping cloths and replaced with dry cloths. EHS discussed the use of sanitizing buckets to store these wiping cloths in between uses.
    • EHS observed in use utensils stored in 2 containers of stagnant water that registered under 135F (109F, 118F). In use utensils must be stored in water that is 135F or more, on a clean dry surface, or in cold continuously running water that has enough velocity to wash away food particles. Containers were removed and replaced with clean dry containers to use for utensil storage.
• Thaiverse, 101 S. Madison St Middleburg, VA 20117
  
  • Date inspected: Jan. 12
  • Total violations: 3
    • Signage is missing in women's restroom instructing employees to wash hands before returning to work. Provide signage instructing employees to wash hands before returning to work. Person in charge provided signage. Corrected at inspection.
    • Spray cleaners observed in food prep area. Maintain cleaners (toxics) separate from food and food prep areas. PIC relocated said items to a separate area away from food and food prep. Corrected at inspection.
    • Personal items (vitamins, etc) on shelf above food storage containers. Maintain personal items in a designated area separate from food and frood prep/storage area. Corrected at inspection.
• Pizza Hut #37455, 300 Fort Evans Rd #101 Leesburg, VA 20176
  
  • Date inspected: Jan. 12
  • Total violations: 1
    • Food employee arrived for their shift, donned gloves, and started fulfilling orders (making pizza) without first washing their hands.
• Lansdowne Heights, 19520 Sandridge Way Leesburg, VA 20178
  
  • Date inspected: Jan. 12
  • Total violations: 3
    • No hand soap was available at the hand sink located between the three basin sink and the high temperature dish machine. All hand sinks that are utilized by food employees must be provided with a hand cleanser. Refill the soap dispenser at the hand sink so that it is available for use.
    • EHS observed a container of seafood filling with a date label of 1/1/24. Time/Temperature control for safety foods (TCS) that are ready to eat (RTE) must be sold or consumed within 7 days of the prepared date. Person in charge (PIC) voluntarily discarded the seafood filling.
    • EHS observed an employee washing dishes within the kitchen with shoulder length hair that was not tied up and with no hat/hair net. Employees must have effective hair restraints so that hair does not contact exposed food or food contact surfaces. Ensure that food employees have proper hair restraints when they are working within the kitchen.
• Taco Bell #036545, 982 Edwards Ferry Rd Leesburg, VA 20176
  
  • Date inspected: Jan. 12
  • Total violations: 1
    • According to the person in charge the mop rack has broken and has not been replaced. Mops not hung to dry and brooms and other maintenance items are not stored in an orderly manner.

The following facilities did not record any violations:

• Panda Express
• Middleburg Deli
• Back Street Catering
• Grill on the Hill
• GB's Grill / Glo's Kitchen
• Broad Run Boards, LLC
• Rodeo's Mexican Grill
• Gringo Gordo @ Delirium Cafe