TAQUERIA EL GUERO

Observed breaded chicken and breaded steak cold holding over 41F in 3-door reach in cooler in main kitchen and cooked rice cold holding over 41F in walk in cooler in hallway.

CA: When cold holding, TCS foods shall be maintained at 41F or below.

COS: All items were discarded.

Observed employee wearing gloves kill bug with hands then remove gloves and put on new gloves and return to preparing food in grill area of main kitchen.

C/A: Food employees shall clean their hands and exposed portions of their arms immediately before engaging in food preparation including working with exposed food, clean equipment and utensils, and unwrapped single-service and single-use articles P and:

(i) After touching bare human body parts other than clean hands and clean, exposed arms;

(ii) After using the toilet room;

(iii) After caring for or handling service animals or aquatic animals;

(iv) After coughing, sneezing, using a handkerchief or disposable tissue, using tobacco products or electronic devices that simulate tobacco smoking, eating or drinking, except for drinking from a closed beverage container and the container is handled to prevent contamination of the hands;

(v) After handling soiled equipment or utensils;

(vi) During food preparation, as often as necessary to remove soil and contamination and to prevent cross contamination when changing tasks;

(vii) When switching between working with raw food and working with ready-to-eat food;

(viii) Before donning gloves to initiate a task that involves working with food; and

(ix) After engaging in other activities that contaminate the hands

COS: Employee washed hands.

Observed employee wet hands and wash hands with soup under running water for less than 15-seconds and turn off manually operated faucet with bare hands in main kitchen.

C/A: Food employees shall clean their hands and exposed portions of their arms, including surrogate prosthetic devices for hands or arms, for at least 20 seconds, using a cleaning compound in a handwashing sink that is properly equipped.

2. Food employees shall use the following cleaning procedure in the order stated to clean their hands and exposed portions of their arms, including surrogate prosthetic devices for hands and arms:

(i) Rinse under clean, running warm water;

(ii) Apply an amount of cleaning compound recommended by the cleaning compound manufacturer;

(iii) Rub together vigorously for at least 10 to 15 seconds while:

(I) Paying particular attention to removing soil from underneath the fingernails during the cleaning procedure, and

(II) Creating friction on the surfaces of the hands and arms or surrogate prosthetic devices for hands and arms, finger tips, and areas between the fingers;

(iv) Thoroughly rinse under clean, running warm water; and

(v) Immediately follow the cleaning procedure with thorough drying using disposable paper towels, a continuous towel system, or a heated-air hand drying device.

3. To avoid re-contaminating their hands or surrogate prosthetic devices, food employees may use disposable paper towels or similar clean barriers when touching surfaces such as manually operated faucet handles on a handwashing sink or the handle of a restroom door.

COS: Employee washed hands properly.

Observed several bowls of TCS foods ( Guiso rojo-cooked stew, beef soup, and guilotas guiso-cooked stew) stored in RIC in main kitchen date marked with 11/12/25 and 11/18/25 as the prep date.

C/A: . A food that requires datemarking shall be discarded if it:

(i) Exceeds 7 days, not including the time that the product is frozen; P

(ii) Is in a container or package that does not bear a date or day; P or

(iii) Is inappropriately marked with a date or day that exceeds 7 days .

COS: Items discarded.

Observed TCS desserts (flan, gelatin cups, and tres leche cakes) prepared on 11/29/25 not date marked stored in self serve cooler along front food service area.

C/A: refrigerated, ready-to-eat, time/temperature control for safety food prepared and held in a food establishment for more than 24 hours shall be clearly marked to indicate the date or day by which the food shall be consumed on the premises, sold, or discarded, when held at a temperature of 41°F (5°C) or below for a maximum of 7 days.

COS: Items date marked.

Observed frozen raw meat in prep sink and frozen cooked foods on prep table thawing at ambient temperature in grill and dry storage area of main kitchen.

C/A: time/temperature control for safety food shall be thawed:

1. Under refrigeration that maintains the food temperature at 41°F (5°C) or less; PF or

2. Completely submerged under running water:

(i) At a water temperature of 70°F (21°C) or below, PF

(ii) With sufficient water velocity to agitate and float off loose particles in an overflow PF, and

(iii) For a period of time that does not allow thawed portions of ready-to-eat food to rise above 41°F (5°C), or

(iv) For a period of time that does not allow thawed portions of a raw animal food requiring cooking to be above 41°F (5°C), for more than 4 hours including:

(I) The time the food is exposed to the running water and the time needed for preparation for cooking PF, or

(II) The time it takes under refrigeration to lower the food temperature to 41°F (5°C) PF;

3. As part of a cooking process if the food that is frozen is:

(i) Cooked as specified under subsections (5)(a)1 or 2 or (5)(b) or 5(e) of this Rule PF, or

(ii) Thawed in a microwave oven and immediately transferred to conventional cooking equipment, with no interruption in the process PF; or

4. Using any procedure if a portion of frozen ready-to-eat food is thawed and prepared for immediate service in response to an individual consumer's order.

Observed live roaches along wall near cash register/front food service area and in hand-wash sink in main kitchen near entrance door.

C/A: The presence of insects, rodents, and other pests shall be controlled to minimize their presence on the premises by:

1. Routinely inspecting incoming shipments of food and supplies;

2. Routinely inspecting the premises for evidence of pests;

3. Using methods, if pests are found, such as trapping devices or other means of pest control as specified under subsections (6)(e), (6)(m), and (6)(n) of this Rule; and

4. Eliminating harborage conditions.

PIC states facility receives pest control services every 15-days. PIC states roaches are entering from cardboard packaged goods from vendors. PIC advised by EHS to remove all inspects cardboard packages and to request more methods of control from pest control company.

Observed numerous home prepared deserts in the front display cooler not on the menu however served and sold in the establishments. CA: (2) Source.

(a) Compliance with Food Law.

1. Food shall be obtained from sources that comply with law. P

2. Food prepared in a private home or received from a consumer may not be used or offered for human consumption in a food service establishment. COS: Deserts removed and placed in the walkin cooler. Not for sale to customer.

Observed cold holding temperature violations at the prep top cooler. CA: TCS cold held foods must be maintained at 41F or below COS: Lettuce and tomatoes discarded.

Observed TCS hot held foods being maintained at temperatures below 135F. CA: Hot Held TCS foods must be maintained at 135F or higher COS: Reheated Green tomato soup 200F at 3:55; tomato soup 190F at 3:55;queso 165F at 3:45 beef discarded

Observed bowls stored in 3 bins of seasonings in dry storage; utensil handle touching ice in a cooler at the front POS station. CA: During pauses in food preparation or dispensing, food preparation and dispensing utensils shall be stored:

1.Except as specified under paragraph 2 of this subsection, in the food with their handles above the top of the food and the container;

2.In food that is not time/temperature control for safety food with their handles above the top of the food within containers or equipment that can be closed, such as bins of sugar, flour, or cinnamon;

3.On a clean portion of the food preparation table or cooking equipment only if the in-use utensil and the food-contact surface of the food preparation table or cooking equipment are cleaned and sanitized at a frequency specified under DPH Rule 511-6-1-.05(7)(b) and (8)(a);

4.In running water of sufficient velocity to flush particulates to the drain, if used with moist food such as ice cream or mashed potatoes;

5. In a clean, protected location if the utensils, such as ice scoops, are used only with a food that is not time/temperature control for safety food; or

6. In a container of water if the water is maintained at a temperature of at least 135°F (57°C) and the container is cleaned at a frequency specified under DPH Rule 511-6-1-.05(7)(b)3(vi).

Observed 2-pans of yellow rice cooling along counter since 12:00pm per PIC measuring far above 70F after 2 hours of cooling (See asterisks).

C/A:Cooked time/temperature control for safety food shall be cooled:

(i) Within 2 hours from 135°F (57°C) to 70°F (21°C); P and

(ii) Within a total of 6 hours from 135°F (57°C) to 41°F (5°C) or less. P

2. Time/temperature control for safety food shall be cooled within 4 hours to 41°F (5°C) or less if prepared from ingredients at ambient temperature, such as reconstituted foods and canned tuna. P

**COS: Items reheated to 165 at time of inspection. **

Observed ice scoop stored directly on top surface of ice machine in storage area of main kitchen.

C/A: During pauses in food preparation or dispensing, food preparation and dispensing utensils shall be stored:

1.Except as specified under paragraph 2 of this subsection, in the food with their handles above the top of the food and the container;

2.In food that is not time/temperature control for safety food with their handles above the top of the food within containers or equipment that can be closed, such as bins of sugar, flour, or cinnamon;

3.On a clean portion of the food preparation table or cooking equipment only if the in-use utensil and the food-contact surface of the food preparation table or cooking equipment are cleaned and sanitized at a frequency specified under DPH Rule 511-6-1-.05(7)(b) and (8)(a);

4.In running water of sufficient velocity to flush particulates to the drain, if used with moist food such as ice cream or mashed potatoes;

5. In a clean, protected location if the utensils, such as ice scoops, are used only with a food that is not time/temperature control for safety food; or

6. In a container of water if the water is maintained at a temperature of at least 135°F (57°C) and the container is cleaned at a frequency specified under DPH Rule 511-6-1-.05(7)(b)3(vi).

Observed several plastic containers stored wet nested along shelving above 3-compartment sink area in main kitchen.

C/A: After cleaning and sanitizing, equipment and utensils:

1. Shall be air-dried or used after adequate draining before contact with food; and

2. May not be cloth dried except that utensils that have been air-dried may be polished with cloths that are maintained clean and dry.