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 March 2, the Jefferson County Health Department inspected 45 food establishments. Scores ranged from 84 to 100. Some were routine inspections while others were reinspections (which are not scored). 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 March 2 are listed below:
■ Arbor View Nursing/Rehab Center, 6400 The Cedars Court, Cedar Hill, scored 84 on March 6. Violations: hand sink blocked; empty soap dispenser by hand sink; few containers without use-by dates; weather strips on door damaged; pans stored wet; tear in insulation of evaporation unit in freezer; back wall of closet needs repaired/ceiling tiles need replaced in storage area; and wet mop stored in mop sink.
■ Cedar Hill MotoMart, 8489 Local Hillsboro Road, scored 97 on March 5. Violation: no labels on two bottles on cleaning shelf.
■ CVS Pharmacy, 2120 Lone Star Drive, Arnold, scored 100 on March 4.
■ Daddy O’s Cheesesteaks Food Cart, 2514 SilverLake Estates Drive, Pacific, reinspection on March 7. Violations: handwashing sink not functioning but new one is ordered; and food cart soiled with grease and food debris.
■ Dollar General, 5697 Old Hwy. 21, House Springs, scored 93 on March 6. Violations: no manager with food handler certificate; gap under emergency exit door; and bottom of cooler door was dirty.
■ Dollar General, 7 Walters Place, House Springs, scored 87 on March 7. Violations: no manager with food handler certificate; no paper towels in women’s restroom; five canned goods with dents on seam; gap under back door; and bottom of cooler door was dirty.
■ Domino’s, 10736 Business 21, Hillsboro, scored 100 on March 7.
■ Domino’s, 2128 Rock Road, De Soto, scored 92 on March 6. Violations: pizza pans with residue; dust and rust on shelving; drain lever taped closed; gap under restroom door; loose steel plate in walk-in cooler; and black residue on wall.
■ Drury Inn & Suites, 3800 Hwy. 141, Arnold, scored 99 on March 5. Violation: employee coat stored in food storage area.
■ Express Mart, 1919 Richardson Road, Arnold, scored 89 on March 5. Violations: rag between soda machine and cabinet contaminated with mold; bulk milk dispenser not cut at 45-degree angle; torn gasket in milk cooler; spills and food debris in walk-in cooler and freezer; stored pans with grease; grease accumulation on storage area floor/dust above chicken hot hold display/sink dirty with debris; and dusty ceiling vents.
■ First United Methodist Church, 113 Grand Ave., Festus, scored 99 on March 5. Violation: buildup on can opener blade.
■ Fox Elementary, Fox Middle and Fox High, Arnold, scored 100 on March 4.
■ Good 4-U Nutrition, 3940 Jeffco Blvd., Arnold, scored 100 on March 6.
■ Hillsboro Elementary School, Hillsboro Junior High School and Hillsboro Primary, Hillsboro, scored 100 on March 4 and March 6.
■ Hillsboro High School, 123 Leon Hall, Hillsboro, scored 93 on March 4. Violations: one fridge not working; and mop sink faucet needs backflow preventor.
■ Hillsboro Intermediate School, 10486 Hwy. 21, scored 97 on March 5. Violation: slimy deflector plate inside ice machine.
■ Immanuel Early Childhood Academy, 6500 Metropolitan Blvd., Barnhart, scored 100.
■ Knights of Columbus, 6800 KC Lane, House Springs, scored 96 reinspection on March 7. Violations: manager had expired food handler certificate; and no food handler certificate for worker on duty.
■ McDonald’s, 4699 Hwy. W, House Springs, scored 97 on March 4. Violations: broken thermometer in line cooler/missing thermometer in McCafe cooler; front door not closing properly; and ice buildup in walk-in freezer.
■ McDonald’s, 2005 Richardson Road, Arnold, scored 85 on March 3. Violations: eggs at incorrect temperature; lettuce and cheese at incorrect temperature; and ice buildup in walk-in freezer/torn gaskets on walk-in freezer door.
■ Orlando Boys Produce, 12985 Hwy. 21, De Soto, scored 96 on March 6. No report attached.
■ Pick-A-Bone BBQ Stand Mobile Unit, 2599 Hwy. 141, Fenton, scored 100 on March 7.
■ Price Chopper Deli, 4639 House Springs Center, House Springs, reinspection on March 4. Violations: taco fries and two deli meats past use-by date; and chicken wings past use-by date.
■ QTea Vietnamese Cafe, 671 Jeffco Blvd., Arnold, scored 100 on March 7.
■ Ruma’s Deli, 1129 Main St., Imperial, scored 88 on March 7. Violations: large container of pasta stored on counter at incorrect temperature; container of pasta at incorrect temperature; dead insects in ceiling lights; heavily-scored and peeling bread cutting boards; and food debris in cookie case.
■ S&J Sno-Ball Shop, 900 Peachtree Plaza, Hillsboro, scored 100 on March 7.
■ Seckman Elementary, 2824 Seckman Road, Imperial, scored 98 on March 7. Violations: ice accumulation in walk-in freezer; and leaking hand sink.
■ Seckman Junior High, 2840 Seckman Road, Imperial, scored 100 on March 7.
■ Smokey D’s, 5537 Circle View Drive, House Springs, scored 93 on March 6. Violations: container without use-by date; no food thermometers present; and holes in floor where upright freezer had been.
■ Smoothie King, 1272 Jeffco Blvd., Arnold, scored 100 on March 6.
■ Spresso (Corner Cup Microbakery), 2 Main St., Festus, scored 92 on March 6. Violations: employee did not turn off sink using paper towel; box of cups stored on floor in storage room; and bathroom door does not self-close.
■ Starbucks at Target, 3849 Vogel Road, Arnold, reinspection on March 4. No violations.
■ Steak N Shake, 1185 Gravois Road, Fenton, scored 84 on March 7. Violations: pans drying with food debris; damaged weather stripping on back door; mechanical dishwasher leaking; incorrect testing strips for dishwashing area; sanitizing solution too diluted; soiled steam catcher above equipment; hole in ceiling tile; and soiled ceiling tile.
■ Subway, 26 Gannon Square, Pevely, scored 90 on March 6. Violations: staff without training certificates; chicken and cheese at incorrect temperatures in fridge; and under counter fridge not cooling properly.
■ Sushi Ai, 2000 Richardson Road Suite 1, Arnold, scored 96 on March 3. Violations: reduced oxygen fish should be thawed by opening package; and ice machine filters dusty.
■ Taco Bell, 2699 Ridge Point Drive, High Ridge, scored 96 on March 7. Violations: incorrect testing strips for sanitizer; and minor debris throughout facility.
■ Taco Bell, 12866 Hwy. 21, De Soto, scored 88 on March 6. Violations: no proof of food handler training; mineral buildup on scoop; dead insects in light guard; dishes stacked while wet; slushie machine leaking; inadequate dish drying space; vent dust accumulation on slushie machine/substance under soda fountain; and dust accumulation on ceiling register.
■ The Braided Bakery, 126 E. Main St., Festus, scored 87 on March 5. Violations: gap under front door; wet wash cloth on counter; sponges being used in sink; scoop left in food; paper towel box stored on floor in storage room; dusty ceiling fan; and dusty exhaust fan in restroom.
■ The Covering House, scored 100 on March 5.
■ Walgreens, 1210 Sugar Creek Square, Fenton, scored 100 on March 7.
■ Wendy’s, 2709 Ridgepoint Drive, High Ridge, scored 98 on March 5. Violations: bubbled-up floor in walk-in freezer; and food debris in walk-in freezer.
