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 9, the Jefferson County Health Department inspected 48 food establishments. Scores ranged from 49 to 100. Some were routine inspections while others were reinspections where scores are not assigned. All inspections are unannounced visits.
Facilities that are considered low priority are not assigned a score. A low priority facility does not prepare food.
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 9 are listed below. They are all routine inspections unless otherwise noted.
■ Amazing Seafood Kitchen/Captain D’s, 830 Jeffco Blvd., Arnold, scored 65 on March 11. Violations: no basic food handler certificates; no soap in restroom; no signage for handwashing in women’s restroom; washed surfaces still soiled with debris; cooked green beans not at correct temperature; incorrect temperature for dipping sauces; no cover on tea container in lobby; equipment stored while wet; plastic pan chipped and cracked; scoop holder needs repair; equipment around hot holding lamps with a large gap; equipment soiled with debris/grease; toilet seat in men’s restroom needs to be replaced; and excess trash and food waste stored outside of dumpster area.
■ Arby’s, 224 Arnold Crossroads Center, Arnold, scored 100 on March 11.
■ Athena Elementary School, 3775 Athena School Road, De Soto, scored 92 on March 13. Violations: walk-in cooler had sagging ceiling panels; stained cutting board/ice buildup in walk-in freezer; no lid on restroom waste can; and limescale buildup on sink faucet.
■ Blue Lagoon Cafe, 14 Gravois Road, House Springs was reinspected. No score given.
■ Circle K, 4671 Hwy. WW, House Springs, scored 96 on March 13. Violations: handlers without basic food handler certificates; and gap under front doors.
■ Creative Minds Childcare & Learning Center, 7049 State Road BB, Cedar Hill, scored 89 on March 12. Violations: no sanitation solution was found in kitchen; internal thermometer needed in reach-in cooler; buildup in reach-in freezer; and fan above stove is dirty.
■ Danby Rush Tower Middle School, 1250 Dooling Hollow Road, Festus, scored 100 on March 12.
■ Exploration Station/Old Gravois Lodge, 4235 Gravois Road, House Springs, scored 90 on March 14. Violations: two refrigerators were holding items above 45 degrees; thermometer in one refrigerator needed new battery; and bottom oven drawer soiled with food debris.
■ Express Mart, 999 West Gannon Drive, Festus, scored 99 on March 10. Violations: dishes being dried on cloth towel.
■ Fox Run Golf Club, 1 Putt Lane, Eureka, scored 80 on March 12. Violations: wiping cloth not stored in soapy water; no date marked on food items in cooler; cleaning chemicals stored above plastic wrap dispenser on prep table; and microwave soiled with debris.
■ Fuji Sushi and Grill, 1127 Main St., Imperial, scored 49 on March 13. Violations: hand sink blocked; no paper towels in restroom; no hand soap by prep area; raw shrimp stored above drinks in small Pepsi cooler/raw meats stored together; vegetable peeler with debris accumulation; rice at incorrect temperature; raw shrimp at incorrect temperature; pesticides not safe for food establishments in kitchen; meats thawing on counter at room temperature; single serve containers being used as scoops; debris accumulation on hand sink, outside of deep freezer, grill/fryer, prep tables, inside of cooler, outside of dish machine, equipment surfaces; debris accumulation on restroom walls, kitchen floor, dish area walls and floor under dish area; and mop stored in mop bucket with dirty water;
■ George Guffey Elementary School, 400 Thirteenth St., Fenton, scored 100 on March 14.
■ Glenda Ennis Home Child Care, House Springs, scored 100 on March 12.
■ Grandview Elementary School Cafeteria, 11470 Hwy. C, Hillsboro, scored 100 on March 14.
■ Grandview High School Cafeteria, 11470 Hwy. C, Hillsboro, scored 94 on March 11. Violations: no soap at the hand sink; and no paper towels at hand sink.
■ Grandview Middle School, 11470 Hwy. C, Hillsboro, scored 100 on March 14.
■ Hodge Elementary School, 2499 Prairie Hollow, Imperial, scored 100 on March 12.
■ House Springs Elementary School, 4380 Gravois Road, House Springs, scored 100 on March 12.
■ Iguana’s Mexican Restaurant, 907-909 N. Truman Blvd., Crystal City, scored 65 on March 11. Violations: cook did not wash hands before putting on gloves for food; no soap at several hand sinks; no paper towels at several hand sinks; hand sinks blocked by equipment; can opener with debris; unlabeled spray bottle of cleaner; screen on back door sliced open and not tight fitting/gap under storage room back door; uncovered pans of prepared food in cooler/uncovered pan of taco shells and bag of beans in prep room; ice scoop stored in ice; walk-in cooler and freezer door gaskets need repair/missing hood filters/standing water in bottom of keg cooler; faucet handle of hand sink not working; and coving missing in several areas.
■ Jefferson R-7 High School, 7 Blue Jay Way, Festus, scored 100 on March 12.
■ Jefferson R-7 Preschool, 1265 Dooling Hollow Road, Festus, scored 96 on March 12. Violations: unlabeled bottle; and single serve scoop stored in sugar.
■ Junction Cafe, 106 S. Main St., De Soto, scored 98 on March 13. Violations: torn gasket on prep cooler; and limescale buildup on inside of dishwasher.
■ Kid’s Corner (afterschool care), 1265 Dooling Hollow Road, Festus. No score given because it’s a low priority facility. Violation: inside of refrigerator with beverage stains.
■ La Casona, 5660 Hwy. PP, High Ridge, was reinspected. No score given.
■ Lam’s Garden, 510 Bailey Road, Crystal City, scored 94 on March 12. Violations: uncovered bag of potato starch and container of salt; boxes of single serve items being stored on floor; dirty fan guard in cooler; and dirty floor by water heater.
■ Lonedell Elementary School, 2500 Tomahawk Drive, Arnold, scored 100 on March 13.
■ Main & Mill Brewing Co., 240 Main St., Festus, scored 91 on March 11. Violations: cooked chicken wings in refrigerator without a date marked; unlabeled bucket under steam table; scoop with no handle in bucket; ice buildup in freezer; and dusty ceiling in kitchen.
■ Maple Grove Elementary School, 7887 Dittmer Ridge Road, Dittmer, scored 100 on March 11.
■ Meramec Heights Elementary School, 1340 West Outer 21, Arnold, scored 100 on March 14.
■ Oriental Buffet, 774 S. Truman Blvd., Crystal City, scored 92 on March 13. Violations: incorrect level of chlorine sanitizing solution in dish machine; wet wiping clothing not in cleaning bucket; and food debris on bottom of freezer.
■ Panda Express, 612 S. Truman Blvd., Festus, scored 97 on March 11. Violations: front door not closing properly; single serve containers stored on floor of closet; and caulk missing behind sink.
■ Plattin Primary, 2400 Hwy. 61, Festus, scored 100 on March 12.
■ Pogolino’s Pizza, 530 N. Second St., De Soto, scored 100 on March 13.
■ QuikTrip, 1069 Jeffco Boulevard, Arnold. No score or report attached.
■ Radeackar’s AG Market, 6771 Mall Drive, Cedar Hill, scored 98 on March 12. Violations: flytrap needs replaced; and dust on fan guard in meat cooler.
■ Ready Set Go Learning Center, 4851 Sierra View Place, scored 88 on March 12. Violations: unlabeled sanitizer spray bottles; chlorine sanitizer too strong; and water temperature in hand sink too low.
■ Ridgewood Middle School, 1401 Ridgewood School Road, Arnold area, scored 100 on March 14.
■ Saucy’s Pizzeria, 10859 Old Hwy. 21, Hillsboro, scored 92 on March 14. Violations: one manager does not have food handler training/certificates not readily available; food and beverage permit not posted for public view; dirty soda dispenser nozzles; inside of beer keg cooler has mold-type substance/dirty equipment surfaces; broken faucet; and calcium and mineral buildup in hand sink.
■ Sherwood Elementary School, 1769 Missouri State Road, Arnold, scored 100 on March 13.
■ St. Joseph Catholic School, 6024 Old Antonia Road, Imperial, scored 100 on March 13.
■ Taco Bell, 4698 Hwy. W, House Springs, scored 86 on March 11. Violations: employees without food handler certificates; no manager with manager food safety certificate; pans with food debris and grease accumulation; gaps under doors; metal pans stacked above dish sink; and food splatter above steam table/lids with buildup.
■ Telegraph Intermediate School, 1265 Dooling Hollow Road, Festus, scored 99 on March 12. Violation: single serve scoop stored in sugar.
■ The Wandering Bean Mobile, 4810 Hwy. B, Hillsboro, scored 83 on March 13. No report attached.
■ Walgreens, 1000 Crossroads Plaza, High Ridge. No score or report attached because it is a low-priority facility.
■ Wayside, 5150 Hwy. 109, Eureka, scored 85 on March 12. Violations: chicken stored at incorrect temperature in hot case/no time mark on items in hot case; pizza in cabinet past the marked discard time; no thermometer in pizza prep cooler; and soiled hood filters.
■ Woodridge Middle School, 2109 Gravois Road, High Ridge, scored 98 on March 13. Violations: frost in walk-in freezer/ice buildup leaking from insulated pipes leading to cooling unit; ice chunks in fan guard; and soiled hood filters.
