The Wingstop restaurant at 3882 Hwy. 141 in Arnold shut down the evening of July 25 and reopened the following afternoon after the business had problems with its coolers keeping food above safe temperatures, according to the Jefferson County Health Department.
“Our inspector visited the facility after a complaint was brought to our attention,” said Brianne Zwiener, communications manager for the Health Department.
According to the July 25 complaint inspection report, a person contacted the Health Department and said the walk-in cooler at Wingstop was not staying cool enough and ice was being placed on foods to keep it colder. It was also reported that employees were using portable air-conditioning units because the air conditioning went out.
“Following our inspector’s visit, the store put up its own sign of closure as instructed,” Zwiener said. “So technically, they voluntarily closed after our guidance that they needed to. During the inspection, several coolers were found to be out of temperature, which required food to be discarded. They (were) approved to reopen (on July 26), and the inspector will be doing a few reinspections in the next week or two.”
According to the report, the Wingstop had already discarded 26 boxes of chicken the previous week and the Health Department had the restaurant discard another 20 cases, as well as dressings and blanched fries.
The restaurant was ordered to keep temperature logs. A July 29 Health Department report stated temperature logs were only taken on July 27, and those logs indicated problems still occurring during the hottest part of the day and staff still using ice in the cooler to keep the foods at correct temperatures.
A manager at the Arnold Wingstop did not provide a comment about the situation and directed the Leader to speak to the corporate office. As of Thursday morning, July 31, messages left with Wingstop and the franchise owner, GSR Restaurants LLC, were not returned.
During the week of July 20, the Jefferson County Health Department inspected 41 other food establishments. Scores ranged from 60 to 100. Some were routine inspections while others were reinspections where scores are not assigned. All inspections are unannounced visits.
Facilities 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 July 20 are listed below. They are all routine inspections unless otherwise noted.
■ 7-Eleven, 1301 Veterans Blvd., Festus, scored 92 on July 21. Violations: incorrect sanitizer solution; single-service cups stored on floor; and ice buildup on a line connected to condenser unit in walk-in freezer.
■ Aldi, 1025 Crossroads Place, High Ridge, was inspected on July 22. No score given due to low priority.
■ Arbor View Nursing and Rehab Center, 6400 The Cedars Court, Cedar Hill, scored 92 on July 25. Violations: soiled can opener blade; damaged weather strip on double doors; light bulb out in walk-in freezer; and soiled inner shelf on ice machine.
■ Arnold 14 Cine, 1912 Richardson Road, Arnold, scored 99 on July 21. Violation: gap under back door.
■ Blue Owl Bakery, 6116 Second St., Kimmswick, scored 86 on July 25. Violations: soiled microwave; meatloaf at incorrect temperature; dessert cooler at incorrect temperature; raw fish in reduced oxygen packaged bags thawing in refrigerator; unlabeled salt container; coating peeling off refrigerator racks; and broken or missing floor tiles.
■ China Wok, 1255 Main Street Plaza, Imperial, was reinspected on July 23. No score given.
■ Crystal Oaks, 1500 Calvary Church Road, Festus, scored 94 on July 23. Violations: shakes, milk and yogurt at incorrect temperature.
■ Dollar General, 2177 Hwy. 67, Festus, was inspected on July 21. No score given due to low priority.
■ Dunkin Donuts, 900 Jeffco Blvd., Arnold, scored 96 on July 23. Violations: no employees with food safety certification; no label on sugar bin; scoop handle stored down in sugar/spoons stored in room temperature water; box of napkins and single serve spoons stored on floor.
■ Four Brothers Meadery, 124 Main St., Festus, was inspected on July 24. No score given due to low priority.
■ Fox Run Golf Club, 1 Putt Lane, Eureka, scored 90 on July 24. Violations: soiled can opener blade; food holding at incorrect temperature; and two ice bins without covers.
■ Grace Pointe Learning Center, 4568 Church Road, House Springs, scored 92 on July 25. Violations: incorrect sanitizer solution; sealing needed for air conditioner window; and soiled refrigerator bottom.
■ Great Peking, 669 Jeffco Blvd., Arnold, was reinspected on July 23. No score given.
■ Grind Coffee Co., 4561 Gravois Road, House Springs, scored 74 on July 23. Violations: two employees without food safety certificates; no proof general manager had approved manager food safety certification; refrigerator at incorrect temperature; incorrect sanitizer solution; no thermometer in refrigerator; scoop handles in direct contact with powder mixes; and two compartments of sink leaking into bucket.
■ Imperial Bowl, 6045 W. Outer Road, Imperial, was reinspected on July 23. No score given.
■ Junction Cafe, 106 S. Main St., De Soto, scored 99 on July 22. Violation: dust buildup on ice machine vent cover.
■ Kasabi, Hibachi, Sushi and Ramen, 343 N. Creek Drive, Festus, scored 60 on July 22. Violations: no staff present with basic food safety certification; paper towels and Windex in hand sink; no paper towels in women’s restroom; soiled jaded knife; no label on spray bottle; incorrect sanitizer solution; no thermometer in prep cooler; live cockroaches near freezers/cooler; abundance of flies in kitchen; dead cockroaches; wet wash cloth stored on cutting board; scoop handle in sugar bin/scoop with no handle in sugar bin; employee drying cups with towel; single serve cup in sugar and panko bins; broken hood filters; food buildup inside prep cooler; leak in dish sink/plumbing needs repair on hand sink; missing coving; and debris on floor behind stove and under equipment.
■ McDonald’s, 130 Arnold Crossroads, Arnold, scored 92 on July 23. Violations: debris in microwave; incorrect temperature in drawer cooler; and soiled cooler.
■ Melba Theatre, 300 S. Main St., De Soto, was inspected on July 21. No score given due to low priority.
■ Mercy Jefferson Cafeteria, 1400 Hwy. 61, Crystal City, scored 98 on July 21. Violations: wet wiping cloth on prep table; and soiled ice machine filter.
■ Mercy Multiplied, 1455 Romaine Creek Road, Fenton, scored 99 on July 22. Violation: soiled gasket on walk-in cooler.
■ Midwest Petroleum, 2854 Hwy. 67, Festus, was reinspected on July 24. No score given.
■ Oak Valley Resort Pool Concession, 1230 Abbey Lane, Pevely, was inspected on July 21. No score given due to low priority.
■ Osaka Sushi and Grill, 36 Gravois Station, House Springs, was reinspected on July 23. No score given.
■ Philly Pretzel, 201 N. Truman Blvd., Crystal City, had a field visit regarding no staff having food safety training. Information was left for management.
■ Radeackar’s AG Market Produce, 6771 Mall Drive, Cedar Hill, was inspected on July 22. No score given due to low priority.
■ Rock Memorial American Legion Post 283, 910 Legion Court, Imperial, was reinspected on July 21. No score given.
■ Rosemont Senior Living Centre, 2121 Ridge Drive, Arnold, scored 100 on July 21.
■ Ruma’s Deli, 1129 Main St., Imperial, scored 83 on July 25. Violations: soiled microwave; food items in a refrigerator at incorrect temperature; noodles in refrigerator that had been cooled improperly; tongs and knife stored in incorrect temperature of water in between uses; damaged cutting board; and food debris on wall behind slicer.
■ St. Andrew’s United Methodist Church, 1004 Rock Road, De Soto, was inspected on July 23. No score given due to low priority.
■ St. Anthony’s of Padua Catholic Church, 3009 High Ridge Blvd., High Ridge, scored 94 on July 23. Violations: manager had expired manager food safety certificate; and soiled can opener blade.
■ Sunnyhill Independence Center, 3342 Armbruster Road, De Soto, scored 100 on July 23.
■ Taco Bell, 4698 Hwy. W, House Springs, was reinspected on July 22. No score given.
■ The Wandering Bean, 4810 Hwy. B, Hillsboro, scored 96 on July 23. Violations: torn gaskets on cooler; soiled gaskets on cooler; soiled hand sink; and restroom doors are not self closing.
■ Tropical Snow, 660B S. Truman Blvd., Festus, was inspected on July 24. No score given due to low priority.
■ VFW Post 1831, 1651 Veterans Drive, De Soto, scored 99 on July 22. Violation: dust buildup on cooler fan guard.
■ VFW Post 3777 Downstairs Kitchen, 900 VFW Drive, Festus, scored 79 on July 24. Violations: soap dispenser stored in hand sink; soiled microwave; no thermometer in refrigerator; mouse droppings in cabinets under dish sink, on floor near refrigerator and on counter behind hand sink; dead spiders on counter near dish sink; box of ranch dressing cups stored on floor; and bubbled-up floor.
■ VP Get N Go, 4090 Athena School Road, De Soto, scored 97 on July 23. Violations: incorrect sanitizer solution; water damage to wall near soda storage; and coving missing in back storage area.
■ Walgreens, 1718 Caitlin Drive, Barnhart, was inspected on July 23. No score given due to low priority.
■ Wayside, 5150 Hwy. 109, Eureka, scored 93 on July 24. Violations: creamer at incorrect temperature; and dust buildup on ceiling and monitor above chicken hot case.
