The Jefferson County Health Department recently implemented a new scoring system for its inspections of food establishments. Those scores, as well as the inspection reports, are available online. In addition, QR codes are being posted at food establishments in the county to allow customers convenient access to recent inspection reports.
During the week of Feb. 23, the Jefferson County Health Department inspected 52 food establishments. Scores ranged from 49 to 100. Some were routine inspections while others were reinspections. All inspections are unannounced visits.
According to the Jefferson County Health Department, facilities start with a score of 100, and points are reduced based on observed violations:
■ Six points are deducted for priority violations that directly contribute to foodborne illness risk.
■ Three points are deducted for priority foundation violations that indirectly contribute to foodborne illness risk or enable priority violations.
■ One point for core violations related to general sanitation and good retail practices.
■ Two points for repeat violations of any type.
Dan Kane, environmental supervisor for the Health Department, said the agency does not have ranges for good or bad scores but instead looks at the overall score, adding that readers need to look at the types of violations.
He said a couple of priority violations are more concerning than several core violations.
In certain cases, the Health Department returns to a food establishment to reinspect, allowing time for the facility to correct issues. According to the Health Department, reinspection is not solely based on the score an establishment gets; it’s determined by the type of violation. Priority and priority foundation violations need to be corrected within a certain amount of time, and priority violations typically are corrected on the day of the inspection before the inspector leaves.
Kane said the department rarely closes a food establishment, and most temporary closures involve a power outage, fire or sewage backup.
To see the most updated inspection report or the last three inspection reports, visit jeffcohealth.org/environmental and click on “View Food Establishment Health Inspection Scores.”
The inspection scores for the week of Feb. 23 are listed below:
■ All of God’s Children Camp, 5919 Antire Road, Peaceful Village, Feb. 25 routine inspection, scored 92. Violations: paper towel dispenser not functioning; can opener blade soiled; dirty hood filter; and light in walk-in cooler not working.
■ Arby’s, 690 S. Truman Blvd., Festus, Feb. 27 routine inspection, scored 91. Violations: box of cups on floor; soda machine leaking on floor/piping from ceiling into grease trap leaking; food debris buildup in freezers and cabinet under shake machine; debris on floor of walk-in cooler/floor under equipment has debris and grease/syrup spill near soda boxes; water-damaged ceiling tiles in lobby; AC sensor improperly affixed to ceiling; and dirty hood filters.
■ Ballroom 051 (formerly Salty Myke’s Saloon), 4551 Gravois Road, House Springs, Feb. 25 routine inspection, scored 90. Violations: bartender didn’t have food handler certificate; no paper towels in restroom; and sink had direct waste line.
■ Bento Sushi Bar at Dierbergs, 860 Commons Drive, Arnold, Feb. 24 routine inspection, scored 100.
■ Burger King, 1652 Hwy. Z., Pevely, Feb. 25 routine inspection, scored 90. Violations: no spill kit/fluid cleaning procedure; back door propped open; chemical for washing fruits/vegetables not dispensing properly; and no sanitizer on wiping cloth bucket solution.
■ Cedar Hill Elks Lodge, 8430 Industrial Drive; Feb. 26 routine inspection, scored 82. Violations: onsite manager’s food handler permit expired in 2024; hand sink filled with cleaning supplies; microwave/can opener blade soiled; incorrect storage of sugar; dirty hood filter; and flickering light fixture near kitchen entrance.
■ Children of Destiny Childcare, 11533 Gamel Cemetery, Festus, Feb. 25 routine inspection, scored 100.
■ Chili’s Grill and Bar, 901 Commons Drive, Arnold, Feb. 24 routine inspection, scored 93. Violations: rice stored at improper temperature; and equipment stacked while wet.
■ Circle K, 2265 South Old Hwy. 141, Fenton, Feb. 24 routine inspection, scored 98. Violations: severe ice buildup in freezer; and dirty fan guards in walk-in cooler.
■ Comfort Inn, 1303 Veterans Blvd., Festus, Feb. 26 routine inspection, scored 97. Violation; no test strips to test sanitizer in sink.
■ Company B Bar-B-Que, 4583 Hunter Lane, Brynes Mill, Feb. 25 routine inspection, scored 87. Violations: plastic case of bacon stored on top shelf in cooler above produce; crumbs found at bottom of knife container; restroom doors not fully self-closing; and dirty hood filter.
■ Culver’s, 123 Richardson Crossing, Arnold, Feb. 24 routine inspection, scored 100.
■ De Soto Community Center, 400 Boyd St., Feb. 25 routine inspection, scored 71. Violations: employee turned off faucet with clean hands; jellies without labels/appeared homemade; no sanitizer in dish washer; containers of food without use-by dates; expired foods/lids with mold growth; dead bugs under sink in cabinet; mold-growth on thermometer; and dust accumulation on wall register above dishwasher.
■ De Soto Donut, 2060 Rock Road, De Soto, Feb. 26 routine inspection, scored 96. No report attached.
■ Domino’s Pizza, 1951 Richardson Road, Arnold, Feb. 25 routine inspection, scored 99. Violation: Pans being dried on cloth towels.
■ El Lobo Rojo, 106 N. Main St., De Soto, Feb. 25 routine inspection, scored 49. Violations: no training certificates onsite; no one present with food protection manager training; employee drinks on tables and shelves with no lids; employee coughed near cook line without covering mouth; raw eggs stored above vegetables in cooler; interior of ice machine deflector dirty/container storing lemons and limes not clean; bleach bottle well above proper chlorine level; meat thawing in water on counter; mouse feces throughout facility; gaps under garage door in storage area; containers uncovered in storage areas; cups stacked while wet; ground beef/cilantro stored in shopping bags; ice buildup/meat juices at bottom of freezer/freezer needs defrosting; cracked coving behind sink; and water runoff from rain/ice melt at back door.
■ Fatboy’s Saloon & Grill, 301 E. Main St., De Soto, Feb. 26 routine inspection, scored 89. Violations: no training certificates onsite; large gap under garage storage; mouse droppings of indeterminate age behind water heater (may not indicate a current problem); bugs in light guard in restroom; wiping cloth not stored in sanitizer; handle on cooler taped together/torn gaskets on coolers; knife with melted and stained handle; hood accumulation/plastic drawers with utensils has crumbs; restrooms do not self-close properly; and water-stained tiles in areas.
■ Fellowship First Baptist Church and Preschool, 2735 High Ridge Blvd., High Ridge, Feb. 26 routine inspection, scored 99. Violation: water-damaged tile next to hood.
■ Festus-Crystal City Elks Lodge Kitchen, 4 Elks Drive, Festus, Feb. 24 routine inspection, scored 82, Feb. 26 reinspection, scored 100. Violations not provided.
■ Firm Foundations Christian Academy/Daycare, 2012 Missouri State Road, Arnold, Feb. 24 routine inspection, scored 100.
■ Four Lakes Restaurant and Event Center, 5925 Plantation Drive, Suite A, Hillsboro, Feb. 25 reinspection, scored 88. Violations: all employees have not signed illness policy/no training certificates available; soap container not dispensing in three-compartment sink/no soap at handwashing sink; no paper towels at handwashing sink; dirty soda guns at bar/dirty pans/raw steaks sitting in pool of blood; no labels or use-by date on some food items; containers holding food in fridge not labeled; uncovered foods in fridge; batter needs to be sifted every four hours; and clean food equipment stored in dirty tub.
■ Gas Mart, 2099 Old Hwy. 21, Imperial, Feb. 27 routine inspection, scored 79. Violations: ice buildup in freezer; dirty hood filter; spray nozzle hanging below flood rim in sink; and broken floor file near ice machine.
■ Holties Restaurant and Pub, 1374 Old Hwy. M, Barnhart, Feb. 24 routine inspection, scored 96. Violations: coving missing; and wall near dish area has peeling paint/wall near back door has large gaps.
■ Holy Child Elementary School, 2316 Church Road, Arnold, Feb. 25 routine inspection, scored 100.
■ Hope Lutheran Church/Early Childhood Center, 2308 Gravois Road, High Ridge, Feb. 25 routine inspection, scored 100.
■ Imo’s Pizza, 1 Jefferson Square, De Soto, Feb. 24 routine inspection, scored 75. Violations: employee said ice scoop/holder not washed regularly; food with no use-by-date; scented bleach used as sanitizer; mouse feces on shelf under sink; broken floor in cooler/torn gasket on freezer and doors of prep tables; ice machine filter grate covered in dust; peeling paint on ceiling in areas/cardboard covering hole in wall under sink/gap in wall around pipe access in back of storage room; and biofilm/mold growth around floor drain/dust accumulation/dirty office door.
■ Jack in the Box, 899 Veterans Blvd., Festus, Feb. 25 routine inspection, scored 78. Violations: all staff need basic food handler certification; microwave with food buildup; gap underneath back door; evidence of cooler condenser line leaking into bucket; grease buildup outside fryers/debris buildup around paper towel dispenser; floor drains producing sewage smell; lids open on outside dumpsters; dirty floor; and dirty hood filter.
■ Jefferson County Juvenile Detention Center, 9501 Gold Finch Lane, Hillsboro, Feb. 26 reinspection, scored 100.
■ Karsch’s Village Market Deli, 1730 Old State Hwy. M, Barnhart, Feb. 24 routine inspection, scored 84. Violations: improper max temperature for hand sink; eggs and raw pork stored over ready-to-eat foods; broken wheel on transfer cart/broken door on display hot hold unit/broken freezer door trim; inside of breading station soiled with flour debris; and lights out in walk-in freezer.
■ KFC, 1199 Shapiro Drive, Festus, Feb. 25 routine inspection, scored 95. No report attached.
■ Knights of Columbus Club Room, 316 N. Adams, Festus, Feb. 26 routine inspection, scored 100.
■ Knights of Columbus Kitchen, 316 N. Adams, Festus, Feb. 26 routine inspection, scored 90. Violations: can opener blade with food buildup; ice accumulation in freezer; broken light guard in restroom; and dirty floor under fryers.
■ Knights of Columbus, 1623 Jeffco Blvd., Arnold, Feb. 27 routine inspection, scored 100.
■ La Casona, 5660 Hwy. PP, High Ridge, Feb. 26 routine inspection, scored 76. Violations: mechanical dishwasher not running properly; inner surface of microwave dirty; hot holding table not working properly; sugar not stored properly; cooler missing light bulb; dirty nozzle holder and damaged tiles.
■ La Quinta Inn, 1001 Veterans Blvd., Festus, Feb. 26 routine inspection, scored 94. Violations: no sanitizer in sink.
■ LaChance Winery, 6035 Second Street, Kimmswick, Feb. 27 routine inspection, scored 81. No inspection report attached.
■ Lee’s Famous Recipe Chicken, 820 Jeffco Blvd., Arnold, Feb. 25 routine inspection, scored 99. Violation: tiles missing in ceiling by back door.
■ Magnolia House, 204 Grand Ave., Festus, Feb. 27 routine inspection, scored 86. Violations: raw meats stored in bin together; dirty can opener blade; and prepared lettuce and ham with no dates marked.
■ Miyabi Sushi & Steakhouse, 892 Arnold Commons Drive, Arnold, Feb. 25 routine inspection, scored 77. Violations: no manager certification; ice dumped into hand sink; no soap at hand sunk; no date marking on cooked rice; wiping clothes not stored in sanitizer; ice scoop and knives improperly stored; and improper scoop for rice.
■ My Place Residential Care, 23 N. Sixth St., Festus, Feb. 27 routine inspection, scored 100.
■ Pasta House, 921 Arnold Commons Drive, Arnold, Feb. 28 routine inspection, scored 94. Violations: scoops improperly stored; and debris on bottom of cooler/dust on fan guards in freezer.
■ Pear Tree Inn, 1201 Drury Lane, Arnold, Feb. 25 routine inspection, scored 100.
■ Pizza Hut, 8644 Commercial Drive, Pevely, Feb. 28 reinspection, scored 100.
■ Pony Bird (Hockensmith and McKim buildings, Pony Bird Lane, Festus, Feb. 27 routine inspections, scored 100.
■ QT, 2600 South Old Hwy. 141, Fenton, Feb. 24 routine inspection, scored 99. Violation: dirty fan guards in walk-in freezer.
■ Subway, 10671 Hwy. 21, Hillsboro, Feb. 25 reinspection, scored 100.
■ Superior Manor of Festus, 12827 Hwy. TT, Festus, Feb. 24 routine inspection, scored 94. Violations: can opener blade buildup; no date marked on bag of food; gap under screen backdoor in kitchen; and blender buildup.
■ Taco Bell, 1621 Hwy. Z, Pevely, Feb. 28 routine inspection, scored 97. No inspection report attached.
■ Villa Antonio Winery, 3660 Linhorst Road, Hillsboro, Feb. 27 routine inspection, scored 97. Violations: no one present with food protection manager training; and no hose bib backflow preventer on threaded faucet.
