PITA MEDITERRANEAN STREET FOOD

CA: 1. Employees shall not use any form of tobacco products, or electronic devices that simulate tobacco smoking, while engaged in food preparation or service, nor while in areas used for equipment or utensil washing and storage, food preparation or food storage. Employees shall only use tobacco products or electronic devices that simulate tobacco smoking in approved designated areas.

OBSERVATION:Employee while engaged in food preparation chewing gum. COS: gum was removed. Discussed with manager that gum/candy cannot be consumed while engaged in food preparation.

CA: (g) Jewelry. Except for a plain ring such as a wedding band food employees may not wear jewelry including medical information jewelry on their arms and hands while preparing food.

OBSERVATION: Employees while engaged in food handling wearing watches/bracelets.
COS- jewelry removed Discussed that all hand/arm jewelry shall be removed for handling food.

Observed that raw chicken was stored above uncooked salmon in the reach-in cooler in the main kitchen. In the back room two-door cooler, there was raw chicken stored above apple juice boxes. CA: Food shall be protected from cross contamination by: separating types of raw animal foods from each other such as beef, fish, lamb, pork, and poultry during storage, preparation, holding, and display by: Using separate equipment for each type, or Arranging each type of food in equipment so that cross contamination of one type with another is prevented, and Preparing each type of food at different times or in separate areas. COS: PIC rearranged coolers appropriately.

Observed that both a tomato dicer and two containers which were set on the shelf designated for drying utensils had food debris on them. Additionally, soda fountain nozzles were unclean.
CA: Equipment food-contact surfaces and utensils shall be clean to sight and touch. COS: PIC voluntarily removed the items in question from the shelves and placed them back on the three-compartment sink to be rewashed and sanitized. PIC removed soda fountain nozzles and cleaned them.

Observed attempt at thawing frozen meat in sink without using continuously running water. CA: Thawing: except as specified in paragraph 4 of this subsection, time/temperature control for safety food shall be thawed: Under refrigeration that maintains the food temperature at 41°F (5°C) or less; or Completely submerged under running water at a water temperature of 70°F (21°C) or below, with sufficient water velocity to agitate and float off loose particles in an overflow. COS: PIC voluntarily turned on faucet water to provide continuous water flow during thawing.

Observed onions were not washed before being cut. Observed employee, after being notified of this, using the dishwasher sprayer to wash onions. CA: Except as specified in paragraphs (g)2 and 3 of this subsection and except for whole, raw fruits and vegetables that are intended for washing by the consumer before consumption, raw fruits and vegetables shall be thoroughly washed in water, in a sink designated for that purpose only, to remove soil and other contaminants before being cut, combined with other ingredients, cooked, served, or offered for human consumption in ready-to-eat form. COS: PIC instructed employee who was cutting onions to wash onions in a bowl of water before cutting them and the employee complied.

Observed dishes still wet and stacked on top of one another on shelf designated for drying. CA: Equipment and Utensils, Air-Drying Required. After cleaning and sanitizing, equipment and utensils shall be air-dried or used after adequate draining before contact with food.

Observed tomato dicer with missing blocks.
CA: Equipment and Utensils. Equipment and utensils shall be designed and constructed to be durable and to retain their characteristic qualities under normal use conditions. PIC indicated manager would purchases new tomato slicer.