Black slime, mold and fruit flies: See latest Sacramento County health inspections
Sacramento County health inspectors cited four local restaurants and grocery store for a variety of violations, ranging from black mold to fruit flies and old food debris.
A yellow placard signals two or more major violations, according to the Sacramento County Food Inspection Guide. These are typically corrected or mitigated during the inspection.
A red placard signals “imminent danger to public health and safety” and suspends the health permit until violations are corrected. This could include, but is not limited to, major vermin contamination.
In contrast, a green placard means a restaurant passed the inspection.
The county conducts roughly 14,000 inspections a year, and 97% of all restaurants pass their inspections, spokesman Ken Casparis previously told The Sacramento Bee.
About 1% of inspections result in a closure, he said.
Health inspectors recently closed two local restaurants due to cockroach infestations and other food safety violations.
Sactown Kabob, 2440 Fulton Ave. in Sacramento, passed reinspection and received a green placard.
However, Lapis Grill, 5743 Marconi Ave. in Carmichael, had not been reinspected, as of Thursday, Oct. 17.
Here are the results of Sacramento County food facility inspections for Thursday, Oct. 10, through Wednesday, Oct. 16, as of Thursday afternoon:
If an inspection listed below needs clarification, business owners can email The Sacramento Bee at servicejournalists@sacbee.com. The Bee publishes weekly updates on health inspections across Sacramento County.
Local grocery store, restaurants cited for health violations
The following Sacramento County restaurants had violations the week of Oct. 10 through Wednesday, Oct. 16, resulting in a conditional pass.
Only the dates of violations are listed. Due to the conditional pass and receipt of yellow placard, a reinspection was or will be conducted within 24 to 72 hours of the inspection. The reports are linked.
For updates on individual restaurants, you can search the EMD website here.
Unphogettable, 1735 Arden Way, Suite 224, in Sacramento, had 22 violations on Tuesday, Oct. 15.
The Vietnamese restaurant was cited for multiple health violations, including the presence of about 10 fruit flies and a house fly in the kitchen.
Inspectors found old food debris on a meat slicer and heavy grease accumulation on ventilation hoods, equipment, floors and walls.
Cleaning chemicals were improperly stored near food items.
Potentially hazardous foods, including noodles and cooked meats, were at improper holding temperatures. Proteins were being improperly thawed.
Inspectors saw one employee who failed to wash their hands before putting on gloves and had unrestrained hair while working with food. A hair was found on a food tray.
Meanwhile, employees had stored belongings, including backpacks and cigarettes, near food.
The restaurant had not been reinspected, as of Thursday, Oct. 17.
Sarom’s Southern Kitchen, 6624 Laguna Blvd., Suite 102, in Sacramento, had eight violations on Tuesday, Oct. 15.
Sacramento County health inspectors observed dust accumulation on the top shelf of the cook’s preparation line and old food debris on a can opener.
A black mold-like substance was found inside the ice machine.
The soap dispenser was empty, with only hand-pumped soap available on the shelf.
Inspectors cited the restaurant for foods at improper temperatures, including fried chicken, cheese, tomatoes and eggs.
The restaurant’s health permit was expired.
As of Thursday, Oct. 17, the establishment had not been reinspected.
Nena’s Mexican Cuisine, 232 Jibboom St. in Sacramento, had 22 violations on Wednesday, Oct. 16.
The Mexican restaurant was cited by health inspectors for multiple health violations, including the presence of six dead cockroaches and one dead nymph on a glue pad above the steam table.
The restaurant’s health permit was expired, and food handler cards for at least 20 employees were missing or expired.
There was slime accumulation inside the ice machine, old food debris beneath kitchen equipment and unprotected food stored in both the walk-in freezer and cooler.
Inspectors noted that restroom doors did not self-close.
Additionally, there were issues with improperly reheated chorizo in the steam table and improper temperatures for various foods, including chicken broth, albondigas soup, raw eggs and diced tomatoes
The restaurant had not been reinspected as of Thursday, Oct. 17.
Mimi’s Cafe, 2719 East Bidwell St. in Folsom, had five violations on Wednesday, Oct. 16.
Sacramento County health inspectors cited the restaurant for several violations, including an employee cracking eggs with gloves on and not changing them afterward.
Foods including eggs, gravy and soup were stored at improper holding temperatures.
Some employee food handler cards were expired.
Inspectors also observed dried food debris and metal shavings on the can opener blade, black residue inside the ice machine and food debris around the fryer.
As of Thursday, Oct. 17, the establishment had not been reinspected.
Food 4 Less, 3547 Bradshaw Road in Sacramento, had eight violations on Wednesday, Oct. 16.
The grocery store was cited by health inspectors for several violations, including a blocked handwashing station and potentially hazardous foods including chicken, ribs and chorizo at improper temperatures.
Several cracked raw eggs were stored in the back refrigerator.
Additionally, raw eggs and raw chicken were stored above sauces and vegetables.
Ceviche was not marked with a consumer advisory and packaged foods in the display refrigerator lacked proper labeling.
The store’s health permit was missing.
The establishment had not been reinspected as of Thursday, Oct. 17.
