- K05: Hands clean, properly washed; gloves used properlyCritical
Employee observed loading soiled dishes into the small, under-counter mechanical dishwasher located at the front service area, then proceeded to handle the clean dishes that had just been ran through the aforementioned mechanical dishwasher.
*Note: Employee was also observed loading soiled dishes into the large, mechanical dishwasher in the kitchen, and then handling the clean dishes. However, the large mechanical dishwasher is not capable of dispensing chlorine at 50 ppm. See K14M.
[CA] Employees shall wash their hands in all of the following scenarios:
(1) Immediately before engaging in food preparation, including working with nonprepackaged food, clean equipment and utensils, and unwrapped single-use food containers and utensils.
(2) After touching bare human body parts other than clean hands and clean, exposed portions of arms.
(3) After using the toilet room.
(4) After caring for or handling any animal allowed in a food facility pursuant to this part.
(5) After coughing, sneezing, using a handkerchief or disposable tissue, using tobacco, eating, or drinking.
(6) After handling soiled equipment or utensils.
(7) During food preparation, as often as necessary to remove soil and contamination and to prevent cross-contamination when changing tasks.
(8) When switching between working with raw food and working with ready-to-eat food.
(9) Before initially donning gloves for working with food.
(10) Before dispensing or serving food or handling clean tableware and serving utensils in the food service area.
(11) After engaging in other activities that contaminate the hands.
[COS] Contaminated dishes were re-ran through the small, under-counter mechanical dishwasher (50ppm chlorine).
- K11: Proper reheating procedures for hot holdingCritical
Soft boiled eggs in soy sauce measured 118F while maintained in the steam table directly over one of the sous vide machines, to the left of the entrance of the kitchen. Per the manager, staff had taken the eggs out of the walk-in cooler 1 hour prior, and were attempting to reheat the eggs to 165F for the intention of hot holding. Manager states that he had repeatedly instructed staff to reheat in a pot on the stove to 165F before placing the eggs into the steam table.
[CA] Reheating for hot holding shall be done rapidly, and the time the food is between 41°F and 165°F shall not exceed two hours.
Any PHF that has been cooked, cooled, and reheated for hot holding shall be reheated to a minimum internal temperature of 165°F for 15 seconds.
Discontinue the use of the steam table to reheat potentially hazardous foods, as the unit is designed to maintain at 135F or above, but not to reheat to 165F within the space of two hours.
[COS] Soft boiled eggs in soy sauce served or else discarded by the end of lunch (2:00PM).
- K48: Plan review
Facility has not submitted plans or specs for any of their three vacuum packaging machines, or either of the two sous vide cookers maintained in the kitchen area.
[CA] Facility shall submit photos and specs to DEH Plan Check at dehplancheck@deh.sccgov.org
- K18: Compliance with variance/ROP/HACCP PlanCritical
1. Facility is conducting sous vide for pork belly. Per the manager, pork belly is first vacuum sealed, then placed into a hot water bath in which it is cooked at 155F using a sous vide cooker. Two sous vide cookers observed in the kitchen area, one of which was in active use to cook pork belly. After being cooked, pork belly is placed into the walk-in cooler to cool down overnight. It is then cut open the next day to be used for service. Numerous bags of reduced oxygen packaging pork belly observed throughout the walk-in cooler. Some of the bags observed to be properly vacuum sealed, with no visible air; However, other bags observed with some air inside of them; Manager states that one of the ROP machines is not expelling air properly prior to the sealing process.
[CA] Discontinue conducting sous vide (and reduced oxygen packaging) of any products in the facility until approval is granted by this Department.
Facility shall be required to submit written SOP's that detail how the pork is to be handled, prepared, sealed, cooked, properly cooled, cut open, and roasted during a period that is to not exceed 48 hours, and complies with all time labeling requirements.
Further evaluation will follow.
Email all inquiries to maverick.chin@deh.sccgov.org
[COS] All bags of reduced oxygen packaging pork that had been cooked today were cut open. All bags of reduced oxygen packaging pork that had been cooling improperly since yesterday were voluntarily discarded. See K09M.
2. Numerous packages of reduced oxygen packaging cooked duck breast observed maintained on a shelf in the walk-in cooler. Per the manager, it had been delivered from their other facility, Taishoken (San Mateo), yesterday.
[CA] Discontinue the transport of reduced oxygen packaging foods across county lines. Facility may be required to obtain a PFR (processed food registration) to do so.
[COS] Reduced oxygen packaging duck breast was voluntarily discarded due to improper cooling. See K09M.
*Note: Consulted with G. Gonzalez.
- K09: Proper cooling methodsCritical
Numerous duck breasts in reduced oxygen packaging measured between 50F and 52F while maintained on a shelving unit in the walk-in cooler. Per the manager, the duck breasts had been sous vided at their other facility, Taishoken (San Mateo), the day before, had been delivered yesterday, and had been cooling in the walk-in cooler ever since.
Numerous pieces of pork belly measured between 47F and 49F while maintained in condensation filled, reduced oxygen packaging in the walk-in cooler. Per the manager this particular batch of pork belly had been sous vided in this facility yesterday, and had been cooling in the walk-in cooler since then.
[CA] After heating or hot holding, Potentially Hazardous Foods (PHFs) shall be cooled rapidly from 135°F to 70°F within 2 hours and from 70°F to 41°F within 4 hours. Approved cooling methods include: 1) Placing the food in shallow pans 2) Separating the food into thinner or smaller portions. 3) Using rapid cooling equipment (Ex. blast chiller) 4) Using containers that facilitate heat transfer (ex. stainless steel) 5) Adding ice as an ingredient. 6) Using ice paddles 7) Using an ice bath and stirring frequently 8) Accordance with a HACCP plan. Cooling foods shall have enough space around the containers for cold air to circulate, be loosely covered, or uncovered and stirred as frequently needed to evenly cool.
[COS] All of the aforementioned items were voluntarily discarded.
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Minor violation:
Numerous pieces of pork belly measured between 57F and 68F while maintained in condensation filled, reduced oxygen packaging in the walk-in cooler. Per the manager this particular batch of pork belly had been sous vided in this facility today, less than 4 hours prior.
[CA] See cooling requirements above.
[COS] Bags were cut open, and pork belly was placed into ice baths to facilitate rapid cooling.
*Note: See K18M.
- K08: Time as a public health control; procedures & recordsCritical
*REPEAT VIOLATION*
Chashu, cooked bamboo shoots, and numerous noodles subjected to time as a public health control lacked time markings while maintained on counters or racks next to the cook-line. Per staff, items had been taken out of the walk-in cooler at 10:30AM in preparation for lunch service.
[CA] When time only, rather than time and temperature is used as a public health control, PHFs shall be time marked to indicate when item is removed from temperature control, discarded if not consumed or served within 4 hours, and written procedures shall be readily available for review.
[COS] Items were properly labeled for discard at the end of lunch service, at 2:00PM.
- K14: Food contact surfaces clean, sanitizedCritical
Chlorine sanitizer measured 0 ppm in the mechanical dishwasher in the kitchen area while in active use to wash various utensils and dishes.
[CA] Maintain chlorine in mechanical warewash machine at 50 PPM.
[SA] Facility shall discontinue the use of the mechanical dishwasher in the kitchen until it can be repaired to output chlorine at 50ppm. In the meantime, facility shall utilize the small, under-counter mechanical dishwasher (50ppm) located at the front service area. Any dishes that are too large to fit into the aforementioned machine shall be manually cleaned via wash, rinse, sanitize in the three compartment sink.
Manual warewashing shall be accomplished by using a three-compartment sink where the utensils are first precleaned, washed with hot soapy water, rinsed with hot water, sanitized with an approved method, and air dried. Use 1 TBS of bleach (5.25%) per 1 gal. of water for chlorine solution (100 PPM). Use 1 tbs of quaternary ammonium (10%) per 2 gal. of water for quaternary ammonium (200 PPM).
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Minor violations:
1. Accumulation of black, mold-like substance on the interior panels of the ice machine.
[CA] Clean regularly to prevent buildup.
2. Cleaned, wet containers observed stacked up in a manner that does not facilitate air drying on racks near the three compartment sink.
[CA] Equipment and utensils must be air dried or properly stored to facilitate drying after sanitizing.
- K07: Proper hot and cold holding temperatures
Soft boiled eggs, chili garlic oil, and blanched edamame measured between 44F and 49F while maintained in the upper inserts of the prep cooler directly to the left of the kitchen entrance. Per the manager, items had been taken out of the walk-in cooler 1 hour prior for service.
Numerous potentially hazardous foods measured between 42F and 43F while maintained in the walk-in cooler. Ambient of the unit measured 43F via prove. Per staff, the walk-in cooler has been having problems, and they are looking to replace the condenser unit. Manager states that an internal thermometer measured the temperature of the walk-in cooler at 41F at 10:30AM, prior to the start of lunch service. After leaving the door closed for 45 minutes, ambient of the walk-in cooler measured at 41F.
[CA] Potentially hazardous foods shall be held at 41F or below, or at 135F or above to prevent the growth of bacteria.
[COS] Soft boiled eggs, chili garlic oil, and blanched edamame relocated to the lower portion of the prep cooler.
Facility has scheduled a refrigerator technician for Friday, and has agreed to continually monitor the temperature of the walk-in cooler using available probe thermometers.
- K06: Adequate handwash facilities supplied, accessible
Handwash sink at the front service area partially obstructed with buckets and a dust pan + sweeper placed directly in front.
[CA] Handwashing facility shall be clean, unobstructed, and accessible at all times.