2 Sacramento County businesses closed due to mouse droppings, sewage
Sacramento County health inspectors recently closed a local Mexican restaurant and sports organization after identifying serious health violations, including mice droppings and a sewage blockage.
Additionally, five other Sacramento County restaurants received yellow placards due to safety issues ranging from fruit flies and rodent activity to grease buildup.
According to the Sacramento County Food Inspection Guide, restaurants are assigned a placard — green, yellow or red — based on inspection results.
A green placard indicates the establishment has passed inspection, while a yellow placard signals two or more major violations, which are usually corrected or mitigated during the inspection process.
A red placard, however, represents an “imminent danger to public health and safety” and leads to a suspended health permit until all issues are resolved.
Major vermin infestations and other serious hazards can prompt a red placard.
The county conducts around 14,000 inspections annually, with roughly 97% of establishments passing, spokesman Ken Casparis previously told The Sacramento Bee.
Approximately 1% of inspections result in closures.
During previous inspections, health inspectors closed a local burger joint due to mice droppings and mold.
As of Thursday, Nov. 21, California Burgers, 8537 Auburn Blvd. in Citrus Heights, had not passed reinspection or received a green placard.
Here are the results of Sacramento County food facility inspections for Nov. 14 through Wednesday, Nov. 20, 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.
Sacramento County inspectors close Mexican restaurant, sports organization
Los Inmortales Taqueria, 6670 Valley Hi Drive in Sacramento, had one violation on Monday, Nov. 18.
Sacramento County health inspectors shut down the Mexican restaurant due to improper liquid waste disposal caused by a collapsed sewer line downstream of the grease interceptor.
The blockage also led to a sewage overflow that entered the storm drain system.
As of Thursday, Nov. 21, the restaurant had not been reinspected.
Sacramento Asian Sports Foundation, 9040 High Tech Court in Elk Grove, had 12 violations on Wednesday, Nov. 20.
The nonprofit organization was closed due to extensive rodent activity, including widespread mouse droppings in storage rooms, the kitchen and food preparation areas.
Additional health code violations included unclean equipment and surfaces, such as residue in the ice machine, dirty utensils and grease buildup on appliances. There were excess cobwebs and debris throughout the facility.
Inspectors also found personal clothing stored above the ice machine and overstacked and cluttered items in a storage room. Unused cardboard boxes were improperly stored.
The water heater room was obstructed by multiple racks, making cleaning and maintenance difficult.
Other issues included a hot water valve at the three-compartment sink that was turned off, a leaking preparation sink, improperly stored ice scoops and deteriorated cardboard boxes used as storage containers.
As of Thursday, Nov. 21, the organization had not been reinspected.
Local restaurants cited for food safety violations
The following Sacramento County restaurants had violations the week of Nov. 14 through Wednesday, Nov. 20, 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.
Fixins Soul Kitchen, 3428 Third Ave. in Sacramento, had two violations on Wednesday, Nov. 20.
Sacramento County health inspectors found baked macaroni and cheese in a hot holding cabinet that measured below the required safe temperature.
Inspectors also noted the use of tape on the lids of the salad prep cooler and batter cooler, which is not an approved material for food storage equipment.
The restaurant had not been reinspected as of Thursday, Nov. 21.
Saigon Alley Kitchen & Bar, 4630 Natomas Blvd., Suite 150, in Sacramento, had three violations on Wednesday, Nov. 20.
The Vietnamese restaurant received health citations for several violations, including a blocked hand-washing sink at the cook’s line obstructed by a standing cart. Another sink near the walk-in cooler was blocked by an employee sitting on a milk crate.
The front bar sink lacked hand soap.
Inspectors also found multiple potentially hazardous foods, such as chicken, noodles, meatballs and shrimp, at unsafe temperatures.
Additionally, time control logs for chicken wings and egg rolls had expired at the time of inspection.
The restaurant had not been reinspected as of Thursday, Nov. 21.
CH Cafe & Grill, 6215 Sunrise Blvd. in Citrus Heights, had six violations on Wednesday, Nov. 20.
Sacramento County health inspectors cited the restaurant for multiple violations, including a cook failing to wash their hands after handling raw chicken before preparing ready-to-eat food.
A handwashing sink was also blocked by a pan, preventing proper use.
Potentially hazardous foods, including sausage links, cheeses, tomatoes, pancake batter and uncooked beef patties were stored at incorrect temperatures.
Inspectors also discovered uncovered food items on shelving under the prep line and in the freezer, as well as refrigeration units without visible thermometers and missing floor tiles in the walk-in freezer.
As of Thursday, Nov. 21, the restaurant had not been reinspected.
J Spot Kitchen, 3173 Marysville Blvd. in Sacramento, had 14 violations on Wednesday, Nov. 20.
The soul food restaurant was cited by health inspectors for numerous violations, including heavy dust and grease buildup on the kitchen ceiling and hood baffles.
There was old food debris inside the microwave, and cooked grits and raw shelled eggs were measured at unsafe temperatures.
Inspectors noted a lack of paper towels at the front counter hand-washing station.
Additionally, an employee was unaware of proper ware-washing practices.
The facility was also missing essential documents, including a current permit, the most recent inspection report, food handler cards for all employees and a food manager’s certificate with a visible expiration date.
Other issues included boxes of to-go containers and napkins stored directly on the floor and two tongs hanging improperly on the oven door handle and improper storage of foods.
Raw shelled eggs were stored above mushrooms and raw bacon was stored above milk and bread.
As of Thursday, Nov. 21, the restaurant had not been reinspected.
Jim Denny’s, 816 Twelfth Street in Sacramento, had 13 violations on Wednesday, Nov. 20.
Sacramento County health inspectors cited the diner for numerous health and safety violations.
An unapproved storage shed containing kitchen items had approximately 50 to 100 rodent droppings on the floor, and four flies were observed in the facility.
Grease vapors were escaping from the hood into the kitchen, and tongs were improperly stored on oven handles.
Other violations included a torn gasket on the prep cooler doors, containers without handles being used as scoops and raw eggs improperly stored above hot dogs in the refrigerator.
Paper towels were missing at both hand-washing stations. The soap dispenser at the three-compartment sink was not functional and restroom paper towels for hand washing were not protected.
Potentially hazardous foods including onion rings, hot dogs and tempura batter were at unsafe temperatures.
Additionally, inspectors identified a large leak at the three-compartment sink.
This story was originally published November 22, 2024 at 5:00 AM.
