LUBBOCK, Texas (KCBD) – A Lubbock Mexican food restaurant is back open after it was forced to temporarily close its doors following its latest health inspection.
Las Palmas Mexican Restaurant at 2821 50th had 39 violations.
(Priority)
- Raw fish was on a shelf in the dry storage area. It was 64 degrees. The person in charge was not able to say how long it had been sitting out.
- Raw tripas, raw fish, raw chicken and diced tomatoes all being held in the walk-in cooler were above the safe cold temperature of 41 degrees.
- The walk-in cooler was not cooling properly.
- Tripas and beans did not have a date mark.
- Raw fish was stored above ready-to-eat beans.
- An employee washed their hands for 9 seconds. Hand washing must be a minimum of 20 seconds.
- A plastic pitcher was in the hand sink. An employee dumped water used to thaw fish into a hand sink. Hand sinks are for hand washing only to prevent cross contamination.
- Knives had food residue on them.
- There was a black residue in the ice buck.
- Utensils had sticker residue on them.
- Utensils were cracked, broken, chipped and damaged.
- Cans were heavily dented. This can cause botulism.
- Toxic items were not properly labeled or stored correctly.
- A hose used to repair a drain line from a hand sink was not up to code.
- The facility has a variance for ceviche but has not kept records since April.
The inspector notes, due to the number and the nature of the violations active managerial control was not observed.
(Core)
- Employee phone and eye glasses stored above prep table.
- Employee phone stored on food preparation table.
- Employee naval jelly stored above prep table.
- Non food contact surface of ice deflector plate soiled with a brown and black residue.
- Interior of microwave soiled with an accumulation of food residue.
- Top of microwave soiled with an accumulation of dust and dirt.
- Red powdered substance stored in non original container, not identified with common name of food.
- Single use article stored in chili powder and use as scoop.
- Utensil stored with handle in contact with the food in container of bulk sugar.
- Ice transport containers not stored inverted or covered between use.
- Single use articles stored on floor in dry storage room.
- Clean utensils stored wet, not in a self draining position that allows air drying.
- Raw fish thawing in stagnant water at ambient temperature on floor in kitchen. Fish held at 49F.
- Raw fish stored on floor.
- RTE lemonade stored on floor in WIC.
The restaurant was forced to close for 24 hours to correct their violations. The inspector adds, the facility must write a corrective action plan to address all violations noted and provide procedures to prevent repeat violations.
They have since reopened.
Capital Pizza at 8211 Slide had 27 violations
(Priority)
- Lettuce, tomatoes, shredded cheese and other items were above the safe cold temperature of 41 degrees.
- The magnetic knife holder was dirty and transferring debris onto clean knives.
- The can opener was dirty.
- The dish washer was not properly sanitizing.
- Toxic items were not properly stored.
- Waste water at a hand sink was backing up into the sink and overflowing.
- There were no paper towels at a hand sink.
- The person in charge did not use a barrier, like a paper towel, to turn off the faucet after washing their hands. This prevents cross contamination.
- Plates at the buffet were chipped.
- There was no signage telling customers to use a new plate for the buffet.
- A spatula was damaged.
The inspector notes, due to the number and the nature of the violations managerial control was not demonstrated.
(Core)
- Gasket on the walk in freezer was damaged, resulting in a large amount of frost around the door.
- Floor under the pizza oven had a heavy accumulation of black debris.
- Floor around the carbon dioxide tanks in the kitchen was heavily soiled with a black debris.
- Vent covers in the walk in cooler were heavily soiled with a buildup of dust and other debris.
- Ceiling tiles in the bar had a heavy accumulation of dust on them.
- Floor under the reach in cooler in the kitchen had a heavy accumulation of black debris.
- Ice machine vent covers had an accumulation of dust and other debris.
- Air vents on the ceiling of the bar had a heavy accumulation of dust and other debris on them.
- Coving along the inside of the bar was heavily soiled with a black debris.
- Ice machine deflector plate was soiled with black debris.
- Shelves above the three-compartment sink were heavily soiled with a buildup of dirt and other debris.
- Wall in the buffet area was heavily soiled with red, yellow, orange, and brown debris.
- Ice buckets were stored at the ice machine not covered or inverted.
- Hand sink in the pizza making area was fixed to the wall such that it was not easily movable, but not sealed around the edges to prevent spillage or seepage.
The report shows most violations were corrected at the time of the inspection.
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