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The following are recent Lackawanna County restaurant inspection reports from the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture. According the agency: “any inspection is a ‘snapshot’ of the day and time of the inspection. An inspection conducted on any given day may not be representative of the overall, long-term cleanliness of an establishment. Also, at the time of the inspection violations are recorded but are often corrected on site prior to the inspector leaving the establishment.” The information is taken from the inspection database at www.eatsafepa.com. Postal addresses used here are as listed on the state’s website, and may not correspond to the municipalities in which facilities are physically located.
Rite Aid #11064, 791 Scranton/Carbondale Hwy., Eynon, Feb. 27. Regular inspection; in compliance.
Luigi’s Pizza & Hoagies, Inc. 302 Lackawanna Ave., Olyphant, Feb. 27. Regular inspection; in compliance. Violations: Food facility has an employee who held a Certified Food Manager certificate; however, the certificate has expired and is no longer valid. The employee has taken a course and will email a copy of certificate to this inspector. Observed cardboard boxes and plastic containers of food stored directly on the floor in the walk-in freezer and walk-in cooler areas, rather than 6 inches off of the floor as required. The items were moved during this inspection.
The Moontower, 239 S. Main St., Archbald, Feb. 27. Regular inspection; in compliance.
Pop Pop’s Mini Mart, 439 Main St., Peckville, Feb. 27. Regular inspection; in compliance. Violations: Observed raw chicken and open carton of raw shell eggs stored above cooked ready-to-eat food in the refrigerator. No sign or poster posted at the hand-wash sink in the front area to remind food employees to wash their hands. Sign was provided for corrective action.
Primanti Bros., 1249 Commerce Blvd., Dickson City, Feb. 27. Regular inspection; out of compliance. Violations: The person in charge does not have adequate knowledge of food safety in this food facility as evidenced by this non-compliant inspection. Food employees observed in kitchen area, not wearing proper hair restraints, such as nets, hats, or beard covers. Observed a container of soup at 67 degrees F on the counter near the hot-holding equipment. Employee stated that he was going to place soup in the hot-holding equipment. Employee was instructed to heat product on the stove until product reached 165 degrees for 15 seconds during this inspection. Deli meats and cheeses were held at 47-51 degrees F, in the bain marie area, rather than 41 degrees F or below as required. It was determined that the products were at that temperature for greater than 4 hours. All products were voluntarily discarded during this inspection. This inspector’s digital thermometer was calibrated to 32.3 degrees F using an ice bath in the presence of the person in charge. The ambient air temperature of the deli bain marie was observed at 55 degrees F during this inspection. The soda guns at the bar, food contact surfaces, were observed to have food residue and were not clean to sight and touch. The guns were cleaned during this inspection. Non-food contact surfaces (exterior surfaces of plastic storage containers) observed with an accumulation of date mark sticker residues. Area between the cooking equipment in the main kitchen was observed with an accumulation of grease.
Domenick’s Pizza, 618 Washington Ave., Jermyn, Feb. 28. Regular inspection; in compliance. Violations Raw animal foods (eggs) were stored above ready-to-eat foods (lettuce, rolls) in the reach-in refrigerator. The eggs were moved during this inspection. Paper cups observed in bulk food ingredient containers. The paper cups were removed during this inspection. Temperature measuring devices for ensuring proper temperatures of equipment are not available or readily accessible in the two front counter bain maries. Temperatures were within acceptable range. Broken floor tile observed in front of Hussmann Glass door freezer and reach-in refrigerator. Webbing observed in back kitchen area above lights.
Genetti Manor, 1505 Main St., Dickson city, Feb. 28. Regular inspection; in compliance.
John Adams Elementary School, 927 Capouse Ave., Scranton, Feb. 28. Regular inspection; in compliance.
Little People Day Care School, 254 Meridian Ave., Scranton, Feb. 28. Regular inspection; in compliance. Violation: Chlorine chemical sanitizer residual detected in the final sanitizer rinse cycle of the low temperature sanitizing dishwasher was 0 ppm, and not 50-100 ppm as required. Reviewed with the person in charge a temporary corrective measure, such as sanitizer bath.
New Century Chinese Restaurant, 1000 S. State St., Clarks Summit, Feb. 28. Regular inspection; in compliance. Violations: Food in the freezer areas stored open with no covering. The food was covered during this inspection. Soups and egg rolls were held at 120-130 degrees F, in the buffet area, rather than 135 degrees F or above as required. The foods were reheated during this inspection. The plastic deflector plate in the ice machine is stained. Wire shelving in the refrigerator units and above the ware-wash sink is rusting. Food facility does not have available sanitizer test strips or test kit to determine appropriate sanitizer concentration. Food facility does not have available temperature monitoring strips or a high temperature waterproof thermometer to monitor final rinse cycle of ware-wash machine. One of three chest freezer lids in the rear storeroom is being held together with an unapproved material, duct tape. Lid is not fitting tightly on freezer. Floor tiles are missing and/or cracked throughout the kitchen especially underneath the cooking equipment and ware-wash sinks, not allowing for a smooth and easy to clean surface. Floors were observed to be clean during this inspection. Webbing observed in the ceiling in the back storage area. The webbing was removed during this inspection.
P & R Discount Foods, 600 Scranton/Carbondale Hwy., Archbald, Feb. 28. Complaint inspection; out of compliance. Violations: Raw chicken displayed next to raw beef/pork with no barriers to prevent cross-contamination in the walk in cooler. Raw chicken was displayed above produce case and fresh fruits in walk-in cooler area. One case of chicken halves was held at 46 degrees F, in the walk-in cooler, rather than 41 degrees F or below as required. Other products in walk-in cooler area were 40°F. PIC voluntarily disposed for corrective action.
Koerner Farm, MFF2, 2106 Newton Ransom Blvd., Clarks Summit, March 1. Regular inspection; in compliance.
LaCoe’s Custom Butchering, Route 6 & 11 La Plume, March 1. Regular inspection; out of compliance. Violations: Food facility is using Virex (a combination detergent/sanitizer) which is not an approved food-use product with food contact surfaces. Smoked kielbasa, smoked kielbasa sticks, smoked bacon and beef jerky for retail sale are from Lacoe’s Custom Butchering located in Scott Township. All product was pulled from sale and detained by USDA. Food facility preparing sausage, beef steaks, smoked bacon, smoked kielbasa, smoked kielbasa sticks and beef jerky using reduced-oxygen packaging without the required written procedures and HACCP plan. All product was removed from sale at the time of this inspection. Facility will not use reduced-oxygen packaging until a HACCP plan is approved by the department. Eggs for sale are not labeled properly with name and address, date of lay, statement of identity, net contents, keep refrigerated and safe egg handling instructions. Left a copy of PDA’s guide for eggs from small flock producers with the person in charge.
Miller’s Orchards Farm Market, Inc., 1421 Fairview Rd., Scott Township, March 1. Follow-up inspection; in compliance.
Alexander’s Restaurant, 604 Rte. 6, Mayfield, March 2. Regular inspection; in compliance. Violations: Commercially processed refrigerated, ready-to-eat, time/temperature control for safety food (cheeses), located in the reach-in refrigerator, and held more than 24 hours, are not being marked. Refrigerated ready-to-eat, time/temperature control for safety food prepared in the food facility and held for more than 24 hours, located in the walk-in coolers, is not being date marked. Reviewed and left a copy of PDA’s handout on date marking for retail food facilities with the person in charge. Observed cardboard boxes of food stored directly on the floor in the walk-in freezer area, rather than 6 inches off of the floor as required. Accumulation of grease/debris observed underneath the grill area and behind the cooking equipment in the main kitchen.
Fran’s Café, 139 S. Main St., Archbald, March 2. Change of owner inspection; in compliance.
Honey Baked Ham Company, 709 Scranton/Carbondale Hwy., Dickson City, March 2. Regular inspection; in compliance.
Montage Exxon/Montage Beerworks, 3 Montage Rd., Moosic, March 2. Follow-up inspection; in compliance. Violation: Thermometers for ensuring proper temperatures of food are not available or readily accessible
Valley View Elementary Center, Main Street, Peckville, March 2. Regular inspection; in compliance.
Valley View High School, 1 Columbus Dr., Archbald, March 2. Regular inspection; in compliance. Violation: The light intensity in the walk-in cooler area is not at least 10 foot candles
Valley View Intermediate School, 3 Columbus Dr., Archbald, March 2. Regular inspection; in compliance.
Scott Fuel Travel Plaza, 98 Hill Rd., Scott Township, March 3. Regular inspection; in compliance. Violation: The interior of the self service microwave, a food contact surface, was observed to have food residue and was not clean to sight and touch. The microwave was cleaned during this inspection.
Scott Twp. Hose Company, 1027 Montdale Rd., Scott Township, March 3. Regular inspection; in compliance. Violation: Raw animal foods (eggs) were stored above ready-to-eat foods (bottled water) in the reach-in refrigerator. The eggs were moved during this inspection.
Wegman’s Food Market #076, 1315 Scranton/Carbondale Hwy., Dickson City, March 3. Regular inspection; in compliance. Violation: Debris on one area of floor behind mechanical dishwasher (bakery area) including inside of walk-in freezer area. Deficiencies corrected on site.
Fiorillo’s Pizza, 100 Old Lackawanna Trail, Clarks Summit, March 6. Regular inspection; in compliance. Violations: Commercially processed refrigerated, ready-to-eat, time/temperature control for safety food (deli meats/cheeses), located in the walk-in cooler, and held more than 24 hours, are not being marked with the date they were opened. A copy of PDA’s handout on date marking was left with the person in charge. The food facility does not have the original certificate for the certified food employee posted in public view. Non-food contact surfaces (fan guards in the walk-in cooler) not cleaned at a frequency to preclude accumulation of dust. Lights are not shielded or shatter proof over the back kitchen prep area. Paper towel dispenser empty at the hand-wash sink in the kitchen area. Paper towel was placed at the sink during this inspection. Observed an accumulation of grease under and behind the grill. Wall in the back kitchen area, has a hole and is in need of repair.
A & A Pizza & Hoagies, 661 Scranton/Carbondale Hwy., Eynon, Mar. 6. Complaint inspection; out of compliance. Violations: Outdoor storage area for waste and is creating a potential insect or rodent hazard for the food facility. Waste not being removed from the food facility at an appropriate frequency as evidenced by overflowing outside dumpster. Observed sign of nesting material behind stove and grill area. Observed three holes in walls in the kitchen area which is not to prevent rodents from entering. Observed 25-70 old rodent excrete pellets in the food preparation area, dry food storage area and shelving unit.
Convenient Food Mart #3029, 330 Northern Blvd., Clarks Summit, March 6. Regular inspection; out of compliance. Violations: Commercially processed refrigerated, ready-to-eat, time/temperature control for safety food, located in the deli area (deli meats/cheeses), and held more than 24 hours, are not being marked with the date they were opened. Items were dated during this inspection. Refrigerated ready-to-eat, time/temperature control for safety food prepared in the food facility and held for more than 24 hours, located in the deli area, chicken and tuna salad, are not being date marked. Items were dated during this inspection. A copy of PDA’s handout on date marking was reviewed and left with the person in charge. The Person in Charge does not have adequate knowledge of food safety in this food facility as evidenced by this non-compliant inspection. Observed insecticides under the hand-wash sink in the deli area, not labeled by the manufacturer as approved for use in a food facility. The items were removed during this inspection. Raw animal foods, eggs, were stored above ready-to-eat foods, juice, tea, in the walk-in cooler. The eggs were moved during this inspection. Non-food contact surfaces, floor of deli bain marie, not cleaned at a frequency to preclude accumulation of old food residue. Observed 10-20 old rodent droppings underneath the hand wash sink in the deli area. The area was cleaned during this inspection.
For previous Luzerne and Lackawana county restaurant inspections, please click here.
