Nearly 190 rat droppings at Sacramento restaurant. What else did inspectors find?
Sacramento County health inspections closed a local restaurant serving Southern food after discovering evidence of a rat infestation, including nearly 190 rodent droppings.
Two other Sacramento restaurants were cited for food safety violations ranging from grease and excessive ice buildup to “potentially hazardous foods” at unsafe temperatures.
While a yellow placard signals two or more major violations, these are typically corrected or mitigated during the inspection, according to the Sacramento County Retail Food Inspection Guide.
A red placard, however, 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 inspection.
The county performs about 14,000 inspections annually, with 97% of establishments passing, county spokesperson Ken Casparis previously told The Sacramento Bee.
Approximately 1% of inspections result in a closure, he said.
Here are the results of Sacramento County food facility inspections for Thursday, May 22, through Wednesday, May 28, 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 restaurant closed due to rat infestation
Tori’s Place, 1525 Grand Ave. in Sacramento, was cited for six health violations on Thursday, May 22.
Sacramento County health inspectors closed the Southern restaurant due to Norway rat activity and other food safety issues.
Health inspectors observed approximately 188 rodent droppings in various areas, including on the floor near the dry storage, between the register and unused ice machine and between the chest freezer and a cat litter box.
This was the restaurant’s fourth repeat violation related to vermin contamination.
Beans and macaroni and cheese measured outside of the safe temperature range, and the restaurant was cited for improperly cooling food — a second repeat violation.
Inspectors also found “heavy grease accumulation” on the ceiling, floor and wall at the cook’s line, a repeat violation.
Tori’s Place had a hole in the floor underneath the broken ice machine, multiple floor tiles loose at the cook’s line, a gap in the wall behind the pots/pans storage room and a loose ceiling board in the middle of the back preparation area. These were repeat violations.
Finally, health inspectors cited the restaurant using an unapproved storage area to hold refrigerators, chest freezers and various dry storage goods and equipment.
Tori’s Place had yet to be reinspected as of Thursday, May 29.
The Sacramento Bee reached out to Tori’s Place on Thursday, but no restaurant representative was available for comment.
Sacramento restaurants cited for unsafe foods
Rosa Madera, 7521 West Stockton Blvd.,Suite 110, in Sacramento, was cited for 16 health violations on Tuesday, May 27.
The Mexican restaurant received a yellow placard for food safety issues including flan and diablo sauce outside of proper holding temperatures.
The restaurant’s hand-washing facilities were blocked by crates, a cart and cases, and a paper towel dispenser was empty.
A variety of foods, including mashed potato filling, whole pinto beans and refried beans had been improperly cooled, a repeat violation.
The facility’s food safety manager certificate was not available at time of inspection, while some employees had incomplete or expired food handler cards.
Inspectors found residue on the soda gun holster.
Bulk food bins in the back prep area were missing labels, a repeat violation.
Rosa Madera was reinspected on Wednesday, May 28, and received an additional yellow placard for “chronic” repeat violations. The restaurant had yet to be reinspected as of Thursday, May 29.
Super Taco, 8325 Elk Grove Florin Road, Suite 500, in Sacramento, was cited for seven health violations on Wednesday, May 28.
The Mexican restaurant was cited for violations including “potentially hazardous foods” including shrimp, ceviche and raw chicken outside of the safe temperature range.
Health inspectors said four pounds of carnitas were improperly cooled. The meat was thrown in the trash, along with the too-warm seafood and poultry.
The restaurant did not have California food handler cards available for review during the inspection.
Ice paddles were stored in direct contact with raw chicken, beef and pork in the standup freezer.
Several areas had debris or grease, including inside the freezer, under shelves in the dry storage area and under the prep table.
Inspectors found excessive ice buildup on the walls and door of the chest freezer.
Finally, the inspectors found gaps larger than a quarter-inch and a missing ceiling tile near the walk-in cooler and dry storage area.
Super Taco had yet to be inspected as of Thursday, May 29.
