Each month the Harford County Health Department conducts routine inspections of 1,893 food service facilities (936 permanent food service facilities and 957 temporary food service facilities). Some pass, some fail. These are their stories…
Below are all the critical health inspection violations for Harford County in October 2013:
Aberdeen Shell
1026 Middleton Road
Aberdeen, MD 21001
Violation: Potentially hazardous food must be held at proper cold temperature.
Aberdeen Sunoco
607 South Philadelphia Blvd.
Aberdeen, MD 21001
Violation: Potentially hazardous food must be held at proper hot temperature.
Bagel Works of Bel Air
15 E. Churchville Road
Bel Air, MD 21014
Violations: Food workers must practice effective hand washing procedures. Potentially hazardous food must be held at proper cold temperature.
Ball Park Restaurant
3418 Conowingo Road
Street, MD 21154
Violations: Potentially hazardous food must be properly cooled. Potentially hazardous food must be held at proper cold temperature.
Bill Bateman’s Bistro- HdG
2021 H Pulaski Highway
Havre de Grace, MD 21078
Violations: Potentially hazardous food must be properly cooled. Potentially hazardous food must be held at proper cold temperature.
Checker’s
1926 Pulaski Higjhway
Edgewood, MD 21040
Violations: Potentially hazardous food must be held at proper cold temperature. Potentially hazardous food must be held at proper hot temperature. Potentially hazardous food must be adequately reheated to the appropriate temperature.
Chiapparelli’s of Little Italy
400 North Union Avenue
Havre de Grace, MD 21078
Violation: Potentially hazardous food must be properly cooled.
Cracker Barrel #333
1440 Handlir Drive
Bel Air, MD 21015
Violation: Potentially hazardous food must be held at proper cold temperature.
Darlington Elementary School
2119 Shuresville Road
Darlington, MD 21034
Violation: Potentially hazardous food must be held at proper cold temperature.
Denny’s Restaurant – Edgewood
1803 Edgewood Road
Edgewood, MD 21040
Violation: Potentially hazardous food must be held at proper cold temperature.
Dillweed’s Cafe
111 Thomas Street
Bel Air, MD 21014
Violation: Potentially hazardous food must be held at proper cold temperature.
Edgewood Convenience Store
700 Edgewood Road
Edgewood, MD 21040
Violation: Potentially hazardous food must be held at proper hot temperature.
Emmorton Exxon
1804 Edgewod Road
Edgewood, MD 21040
Violations: Potentially hazardous food must be held at proper cold temperature. Potentially hazardous food must be held at proper hot temperature.
Food Lion #1547
2250 Hanson Road
Edgewood, MD 21040
Violation: Potentially hazardous food must be held at proper cold temperature.
Forest Hill Elementary School
2407 Rocks Road
Forest Hill, MD 21050
Violation: Potentially hazardous food must be held at proper cold temperature.
Forest Hill Health & Rehabilitation Center
109 Forest Valley Drive
Forest Hill, MD 21050
Violation: Potentially hazardous food must be held at proper hot temperature.
Friendlys – Bel Air
353 South Main Street
Bel Air, MD 21014
Violation: Potentially hazardous food must be adequately reheated to the appropriate temperature.
Fuji Sushi
5 Bel Air South Parkway
Bel Air, MD 21015
Violations: Food workers must practice effective hand washing procedures. Potentially hazardous food must be held at proper cold temperature.
Gene’s Bar & Restaurant, Inc.
1368 W. Jarrettsville Road
Forest Hill, MD 21050
Violation: Potentially hazardous food must be held at proper hot temperature.
Giant Food Store #365
3229 Emmorton Road
Abingdon, MD 21009
Violation: Potentially hazardous food must be held at proper cold temperature.
Gino’s – Aberdeen
1013 Beards Hill Road, Suite 200
Aberdeen, MD 21001
Violation: Potentially hazardous food must be held at proper hot temperature.
Greek Village Restaurant
129 Baltimore Pike
Bel Air, MD 21014
Violation: Potentially hazardous food must be held at proper cold temperature.
Gus’ Pizza
1928 B Pulaski Highway
Edgewood, MD 21040
Violation: Potentially hazardous food must be held at proper cold temperature.
Harford Glen School
502 Wheel Road
Bel Air, MD 21015
Violation: Potentially hazardous food must be held at proper cold temperature.
High’s #68
4802 Rocks Road
Street, MD 21154
Violations: Potentially hazardous food must be held at proper cold temperature. Potentially hazardous food must be adequately cooked to the appropriate temperature.
Hing Wah II
804 Conowingo Road
Bel Air, MD 21014
Violation: Potentially hazardous food must be held at proper cold temperature.
Holiday Inn Express
2118 Emmorton Park Road
Edgewood, MD 21040
Violation: Potentially hazardous food must be held at proper hot temperature.
Hunan Chef Restaurant
5 Bel Air South Parkway
Bel Air, MD 21015
Violation: Potentially hazardous food must be held at proper hot temperature.
Jarrettsville Elementary School
3818 Norrisville Road
Jarrettsville, MD 21084
Violation: Potentially hazardous food must be held at proper cold temperature.
Jarrettsville Gardens
3825 Federal Hill Road
Jarrettsville, MD 21084
Violation: Potentially hazardous food must be held at proper hot temperature.
King’s Cheese & Deli
1000 Joppa Farm Road
Joppa, MD 21085
Violation: Potentially hazardous food must be held at proper cold temperature.
Klein’s Shoprite Riverside #246
1321 Riverside Parkway
Riverside, MD 21017
Violation: Potentially hazardous food must be held at proper cold temperature.
La Tolteca – Aberdeen
984 Hospitality Way
Aberdeen, MD 21001
Violations: Potentially hazardous food must be properly cooled. Potentially hazardous food must be held at proper cold temperature. Potentially hazardous food must be held at proper hot temperature.
Little NY
111 South Main Street
Bel Air, MD 21014
Violation: Potentially hazardous food must be held at proper cold temperature.
Magnolia Elementary School
901 Trimble Road
Joppa, MD 21085
Violation: Potentially hazardous food must be held at proper cold temperature.
Mars Super Markets, Inc. #017
1401 N. Pulaski Highway
Edgewood, MD 21040
Violation: Potentially hazardous food must be held at proper cold temperature.
McDonald’s #18290
404 Constant Friendship Blvd
Abingdon, MD 21009
Violation: Potentially hazardous food must be held at proper hot temperature.
McDonald’s #2300
1325 Riverside Parkway
Belcamp, MD 21017
Violation: Potentially hazardous food must be held at proper cold temperature.
Mikey’s Chicken Rico
1833 B Pulaski Highway
Edgewood, MD 21040
Violation: Potentially hazardous food must be held at proper hot temperature.
Mr. Y’s Pizza & Fries
4202 Conowingo Road
Darlington, MD 21034
Violation: Potentially hazardous food must be held at proper cold temperature.
My Three Sons – Churchville
2832 Churchville Road
Churchville, MD 21028
Violation: Potentially hazardous food must be held at proper cold temperature.
North Harford Elementary School
120 Pylesville Road
Pylesville, MD 21132
Violation: Potentially hazardous food must be held at proper hot temperature.
Open Door Café
528 Baltimore Pike
Bel Air, MD 21014
Violations: Potentially hazardous food must be held at proper cold temperature. Potentially hazardous food must be held at proper hot temperature.
Peddler Run Gas N Go
3940 Conowingo Road
Darlington, MD 21034
Violation: Potable hot and cold running water must be provided.
Quizno’s Sub – Bel Air
573 Baltimore Pike
Bel Air, MD 21014
Violations: Potentially hazardous food must be held at proper cold temperature. Potentially hazardous food must be held at proper hot temperature.
Quiznos/ Riverside Shell
4270 Philadelphia Road
Bel Air, MD 21015
Violation: Potentially hazardous food must be held at proper cold temperature.
Riverside Elementary School
211 Stillmeadow Drive
Joppa, MD 21085
Violation: Potentially hazardous food must be held at proper cold temperature.
Rock Spring Village
One Colgate Drive
Forest Hill, MD 21050
Violation: Potentially hazardous food must be properly cooled.
Rodgers House Tavern
226 North Washington Street
Havre de Grace, MD 21078
Violations: Potentially hazardous food must be held at proper cold temperature. Potentially hazardous food must be held at proper hot temperature.
Royal Farm Store #170
2201 Jack Lane
Bel Air, MD 21015
Violation: Potentially hazardous food must be held at proper cold temperature.
Royal Farm Store #25
1601 Churchville Road
Bel Air, MD 21014
Violations: Potentially hazardous food must be properly cooled. Potentially hazardous food must be held at proper cold temperature.
Royal Farms Store #188
742 South Philadelphia Boulevard
Aberdeen, MD 21001
Violations: Food workers must practice effective hand washing procedures. Potentially hazardous food must be properly cooled. Potentially hazardous food must be held at proper hot temperature.
Ruby Tuesday #4848
1341 James Way
Aberdeen, MD 21001
Violation: Potentially hazardous food must be held at proper cold temperature.
Safeway Store #1652
225 Brier Hill Road
Bel Air, MD 21015
Violation: Potentially hazardous food must be held at proper cold temperature.
Savona Fine Italian Foods & Wine
2 North Main Street
Bel Air, MD 21014
Violation: Potentially hazardous food must be held at proper cold temperature.
Season’s Pizza – Havre de Grace
866 Ostego Street
Havre de Grace, MD 21078
Violations: Potentially hazardous food must be held at proper cold temperature. Potentially hazardous food must be held at proper hot temperature.
Sleep Inn & Suites
1807 Edgewood Road
Edgewood, MD 21040
Violation: Potentially hazardous food must be held at proper cold temperature.
Sonic Drive-In
1921 Emmorton Road
Bel Air, MD 21015
Violations: Potentially hazardous food must be held at proper cold temperature. Potentially hazardous food must be held at proper hot temperature. Potentially hazardous food must be adequately reheated to the appropriate temperature.
Southampton Middle School
1200 Moores Mill Road
Bel Air, MD 21014
Violations: Potentially hazardous food must be held at proper cold temperature. Potentially hazardous food must be held at proper hot temperature.
Sun and Moon Cafe
300 Edgewood Road
Edgewood, MD 21040
Violations: Food workers must practice effective hand washing procedures. Potentially hazardous food must be held at proper cold temperature.
Tankard Restaurant & Lounge
1 Maurice Drive
Forest Hill, MD 21050
Violation: Potentially hazardous food must be held at proper cold temperature.
Tea by Two
814 South Main Street
Bel Air, MD 21014
Violation: Potentially hazardous food must be held at proper cold temperature.
The Deck Crab House & Bar
2207 Pulaski Highway
Edgewood, MD 21040
Violation: Potentially hazardous food must be properly cooled.
The Mallet Restaurant & Crab House
2403 Bel Air Road
Fallston, MD 21047
Violation: Food must be protected from contamination, spoilage and adulteration.
The Orient Restaurant
15 North Main Street
Bel Air, MD 21014
Violation: Potentially hazardous food must be held at proper cold temperature.
Trinity Lutheran Church School
1100 Philadelphia Road
Joppatowne, MD 21085
Violations: Potentially hazardous food must be held at proper cold temperature. Potentially hazardous food must be held at proper hot temperature.
Weis Markets, Inc., #193
943 Pulaski Highway
Havre de Grace, MD 21078
Violation: Potentially hazardous food must be held at proper cold temperature.
Wings N Pies
625 B Edgewood Road
Edgewood, MD 21040
Violations: Food workers must practice effective hand washing procedures. Potentially hazardous food must be held at proper cold temperature.
Wm. S. James Elementary School
One Laurentum Parkway
Abingdon, MD 21009
Violation: Potentially hazardous food must be held at proper hot temperature.
The full food facility inspection report is available here.
the places I frequent that are listed won’t have to worry too much more…
with colder weather coming, maybe just open a door and avoid the one, lame comment that caused them to be cited…”Potentially hazardous food must be properly cooled.”….in some ways it looks like nitpicking…i’m sure the Health Dept. serves us well.
I agree with Todd!!
I have worked in restaurants. Most likely the proper temps are due to inadequate thermometers or the temp being to low. It could even be as little as 1 degree. I have seen some nit picking when I worked in NC. The health dept there is very strict. and you get rated that day with an A, B, or C. I don’t worry about the temps as much as I do proper hand washing. All I think about is E-coli. And that is no joke.
Not properly cooling food can lead to bacteria to grow rapidly on the food. Thats cooking 101 dude. It’s not nitpicking its called caring about the food you’re serving. You get a customer sick and your restaurant will lose money quicker than you’d think.
I agree its far from nick picking when it comes to food you eat out an pay for. I would rather the health department do a good job then not. After all its our health an the health of our kids.
The thing that puzzles me is that down south where ever you choose to eat (restuarant, fast food, gas station, or even a stand/food cart) the rating (A, B, or C) is placed above the door for all to see the same day as its done. In this state we are lucky to find out just imagine if it were like the south; no matter what grade it is you have a genral idea of what passed and failed. Most people wont eat at a C resturant because its about to be shut down…. Just think about the food you ate at these places and the risks you unknowingly took just for a meal.
Todd… I would have to agree, when I eat out I prefer my food to be hot. Not really sure what they mean by that.
I’m with you Todd. I’m sure there are quotas that need to be met. Thankfully some of them seem to have some validity to them.
As a former food inspector, what you all have little regard for taking seriously, could be the difference between enjoying your meal and spending the rest of your time in the bathroom or even hospital. Germs and bacteria can thrive on just a few degrees difference. Holding food in a refrigerator without it being at the proper temperature can lead to an outbreak of bacteria. Holding food in a warmer that isn’t at the proper temp is an accident waiting to happen.Proper hand sanitation can lead to an e-coli outbreak. These seemingly small things could lead to a whole community being affected. So I don’t think they were nitpicking, but doing their jobs!
Usually after a big meal of nachos I spend the entire night in the bathroom and stinking up the house, why is that?
So, why are you a former food inspector? Couldn’t handle the negative pressure, obviously.
AND, germs and bacteria CAN thrive on a few degrees difference, however, thankfully our bodies are equipped with this thing called FLORA which aid in the protection of our bodies.
-Sarah Wolfe
Are you really that lame? Gtfooh. Maybe they retired with honors. You’re what’s wrong with the world.
Mrs. Wolfe, making an attack on someone’s personality because of a former job they had isn’t helping your credibility.
Wow! For all of those not bothered by the commercial violations, you probably look at a little food poison as your weight loss program. All fun and games until it’s too late and then you will want to know why the health department wasn’t doing a better job.
I worked with food for years, it is NOT the health departments job to get a business working thermometer’s. The temperature of refrigeration unit is part of what a food service business accepts as their responsibility when they decide to own that business.
I want “nit pickers” in the health department as well as the food business. If it is not in you to be this way then you should consider owning a Pay Less or a Staples instead.
Rant over.
NOT A RANT….. WELL SAID
Unfortunately for all the ones about being kept at proper temperatures hot or cold. Health depth is so picky that even if the temps are off by 1 or 2 degrees from the proper temp they will fail.
Todd…. about the “Potentially hazardous food must be properly cooled” I would think that its seafood, mayo, eggs. Things that need to stay cold or they will spoil.
I’m personally blown away by the number of SCHOOLS listed!! Crazy
Brian Goodman – Where can we the public get these types of report our self’s? I would like to see these each time they are done.
@Brian Goodman-these reports are posted to the website for Harford County Health Dept. and you can look up any food facility.
When the health department is sighting them for temperatures even if 1 degree it’s important to you the person who will potentially eat and get ill. If the business has bad thermometers then they need to fix or replace them. But they should keep logs certain times of the day that these temps are being kept. The inspector brings a good thermometer with them to make sure that it is accurate. Having dealt with this myself…they are not nitpicking and it’s not from someone who complained their food was too cold or too hot Todd Holden. It’s a problem that should be monitored well to keep us from be sick. They are things that they nitpick about because yes they have to find something, but unfortunately it is something that is in code just not serious. But food holding temps and equipment temps that include food and drinks is very serious whether we like it or not. I would be on the side of the health dept. it’s not a popularity contest.
Thank you…. I was quite confused about the properly cooled one.
I agree on the temps, but the Health Dept does get a little carried away. When they visit the healthcare facility I work at, they come up with some really stupid stuff. Things that were good on their visit a month prior, all of the sudden are deemed unacceptable. They start picking if they don’t find real issues.
Did anyone check their thermometers.
That’s what I thought Alan. How accurate are the Health Dept thermometers since so many had the same violation?
Having spent 25 years in the restaurant industry, I was always appalled to watch health department inspectors test multiple items with the same thermometer without sanitizing it causing possible cross contamination. And I always ended up with a couple of thermometers that they would leave behind in my food. While I believe they fulfill a critical part of any food service establishments safety because I have seen some pretty scary things in restaurants and never go back, they can be a little crazy. I was cited for a coffee bean between the legs of two metro racks…one coffee bean. I like how some states require that the latest score be posted for customers to see because you don’t know what is going on in the back of the house. I for one appreciate knowing that food is not being held at proper temperatures.
Much ado about nothing. Me thinks once again the public employees need to justify thier salaries by collecting fines or otherwise making a complete pain in arse of themselves. Perfect temps on everything in a kitchen will never be achievable. If it were rat droppings I’d be concerned – no evidence of that in any of these infractions. Bagel works???? Seriously one of the best breakfasts around and the food is always not too hot and not too cold, but as goldilocks would say just right.
If you have a hot item (made in a large quantity as it is in most restaurants) and they do not bring it down to a safe temperature in a reasonable amount of time by putting it into a pan and putting that pan in a mixture of ice water to initially cool it and then later a properly working refrigerator unit once it cools enough to not spike the temperature of the cooler and is not also stirred to assist in the cooling down process . it could potentially never even reach a safe zone and just be breading bacteria… It is very dangerous – if not cooled properly initially it could remain above a safe temperature for dies and people could become very sick/die from violations. … It is clear that the people commenting for the most part have no idea about food safety or food handling.. The health department uses their own thermometers that work properly and someone suggested opening a door to cool food because it is cold now? And someone else mentioned bringing food down to temp and thought that meant keeping perishable items that are Always cold cold. . scary how little people know
You are so right. How should breathe air safely?
http://www.harfordcountyhealth.com/harford-county-health-department-services/environmental-health-services/food-facility-inspection-reports/
They release this report every month, and numerous places are on the list EVERY TIME they release it. It’s meant to be an informative report and to assist in the correction as opposed to one where people crucify vendors. You’re supposed to utilize them to do research and see if it’s on there multiple times for anything other than these minute infractions
I am a certified food safety manager and its not necessarily that these places are serving food that is too hot or too cold. It’s that they are not properly heating and cooling the products. There are safe times slots within which you can heat and cool food without bacteria growing. It might seem like nitpicking and even the odds of someone getting sick might not be great. But they are still there. And some of these bacterial can be very serious. The first time I learned about all of this stuff I was amazed at what I didn’t know.
If or when a more serious, irrefutable violation occurs, the health department will close down the restaurant immediately. We have seen that previously in instances of hot/cold water not being available, multiple uncorrected violations found, and even back to the hepatitis case in Bel Air several years ago.
People take small risks every day – not buckling their seat belt, not putting on sunscreen, not wearing ear/eye protection, etc.
It’s all about personal preference and risk tolerance levels.
The same person who chides you for not lathering up in sunscreen may have no problem taking you out to a restaurant that was just hit with a “6b” critical violation.
We all have our thresholds.
And if I count correctly there are 7 public schools. If no one is concerned then I’m fine with that because I don’t have children in the public schools anymore. What does HCPS have to say about the Health Department violations? I mean, they are always in here for some of their schools. Always.
That kind of thinking shows you’re an expert
I appreciate what they are doing! These violations need fixing especially in our schools.
I owned a restaurant before selling it to my partner a few years ago. We got hit with the 6b violation a handful of times.
Our violation has nothing to do with the temperature of the food but the pan we had placed our meat in. As we found out, larger cuts of meat require a certain depth (up to 6 inches) according to the health department. We would prepare our meats in a smaller pan prior to cooking but that was a no-no in Harford County. In Baltimore county there was no restriction.
There’s a better chance that these violation have nothing to do with the temperature of the food. They are violated for creating a potential issue.
Has anyone noticed that no wawa’s were on here. One more reason wawa is the best
We must have a zero tolerance for poor food safety. We need daily government inspections and those that fail should be shutdown. Let’s hire well paid government employees to watch over us.
I would like to know how to get the restaurant in my workplace inspected. They hold hardboiled eggs on the counter next to the coffee pot, shouldn’t they be refrigerated? And they handle money and raw vegetables without washing or using gloves, back and forth repeatedly from the cash drawer back to the knife and veggies. And they pack frozen meat on top of the ice cream bars in the freezer. Who knows what happens back in the kitchen where we don’t see the process.
Are you interested in being terminated from your employment?
Just wanted to poiny out about the 1 degree off thing. That the safe zone has been changed on and off for 5 or 6 years now between 40 and 41 so if you have ever worked in a kitchen or other buisness where the health dept comes in it is almost impossible to not get flagged for something.
Good grief-looking at this incredibly lengthy list makes me wonder- 1) should one ever eat out anywhere?! 2)is the Health dept. being a bit pricky? and 3) assuming it all is true,it’s disgraceful.
The list is always nearly this long, everytime. Where have you been?
People say, “wow, this is so bad.” When I would venture to assume a majority of people’s home kitchens would rank worst than what is being nitpicked to eat degree here.
i have to say this.. there are some places that need to be inspected that dont hardly get an inspection.. then there places that get hit all the time.. yes you have your nitpickers and then u have the ones who its like why do they even still even have a job.. it is not always an employee or companies fault for the temp issues.. equipment fails and alot of ppl dont see it til its too late.. then yes you have the ppl who just lie on the temp logs.. unfortunely that is the chance you take when u eat food made by someone elses hand.. if you think the conditons are bad and etc.. go watch the alaskan frontier show.. see how u like their way of living and storing foods… smh
Give me a break. This is nitpicking.
Ruth,
So you are okay with Harco public school food service being cited by the Health Department for food safety violations?
If that’s all they could find at Friendly’s, then they didn’t look very hard.
I work in food service. This is NOT nik picking. Most of you have no clue what a 1 degree change in temp can do. They are doing a great service and you need to remember without them god only knows what some of theses places would serve
Is it me or is the same person constantly posting about the “1 degree” of food difference, and such under multiple names?
I work at darlington elementary and yes toss can lead to growth of bacteria but u have a 4 hr window we temp everything and ours was good but after health department got there we were getting ready to serve so it was not in holding departments that’s all
There has to be some sort of standard. If the it’s cold must be colder than 40 and hot must be hotter than 140 then that’s the standard. If it’s within that 40-140 range then it’s a violation. cold food at 41 or 42 degrees may not be all that big of a deal, but you either have the standard or you don’t and the line has to be drawn someplace.
If they start letting businesses slide by 1 degree now then in a year or so when businesses get listed for 2 degrees you all will bitch about that. The food inspectors can be held liable if they let businesses slide on violations, even if they are pretty minor, especially if someone does end up getting sick as a result. I wouldn’t let businesses slide if it meant I could later be sued, lose my job, etc. It’s not the inspector’s fault a particular business can’t keep their food at the proper temperature. It’s the owner’s responsibility to ensure it happens and that their employees are properly trained, that they have the proper equipment, and that the equipment works.
When you don’t know what they mean by proper cooling then don’t even comment. It makes you look stupid. I myself am VERY concerned about the schools listed. My grandsons school was not one listed but if Harf. Board of Edu. don’t take care of this then shame on them, and all of you that feel like it is silly. Are you kidding me????? If one of you were to get sick you would be ready to sue and have that gov. employee fired. Let them do there job!!!!
Some of the people commenting about nit picking need to watch shows like Bar Rescue or Restaraunt Stakeout. I would bet almost everyone at one time or another has gotten sick after a meal but dismissed it as getting a 24 hour bug or the like and it was really because of one of these “minor issues” that was overlooked by business owners.
Yeah! How about Gordon Ramsay’s Kitchen Nightmare!!! It’s on TV, it must be true!!!! Right!!!! Yeah!!!!!
Hey just turn the TV off and spout about your God and your guns. Those are the only things you believe in. After all, others tell you to.
I have worked in the food service industry in the past, and I know some inspectors are worse than others. With that being said, the easiest way to get in and get out, and make a violation, is to temp. probe a few items. Some places are pure s**t holes and get away with truly unsanitary conditions on a regular basis, and some places are nice and sanitary, but fail for a 1 degree reading. There is NO excuse for improper hand washing, period.
Anyone notice that practically every single violation is temperature related? Does this mean that hundreds if not thousands of meals have been potentially “contaminated” by bacteria due to temperature? It’s ironic that Harford County Health Department cites violations yet this doesn’t seem to align with the state health department? Ever wonder why they write everything up while state wide, other health departments write up every single thing.
I know the HCPS food service department strives to serve safe food within the HACCP guidelines. The health department is extremely strict and gigs you for every single thing. They don’t even give you a chance to correct a violation. It’s a crock.
One more thing. Is the health department even taking TIME into consideration? Like, when the food was cooked, how long it’s been held, etc.
A food can be below 140 and above 40 and still be safe—depending upon the time the food stayed in the TDZ.
My guess is they just needed something to write on their report!
5 Guys isn’t on the list either:) I am a manager at 1 of the locations. We take temps very seriously. I would hate if someone got sick at my store. We temp everything every 1 1/2 on the dot. If it is off by 1pt it gets tossed no questions asked. For everyone saying it could be just 1 point, well that 1 point means a world of difference. Not only do we have to worry about the Health dept. we also get audited by Steritech.
If you are chucking “1 point off” food in the garbage, what do you think about giving it to me, for free?
Hey I would but it’s my job we do temps all the time but u have a four hr window before u have contamination and it doesn’t last that long and he uses lazer temps they r not accurate at all one he used reg thermometer temps were right on but he didn’t change that on our report
If I were you, A.A, I’d be more concerned about overcooking your burgers each and every time. No taste, no texture, no flavor. Hockey pucks on buns. I can’t begin to guess why this chain is supposedly so popular. And the first time I entered the Bel Air store, there was a huge sign over the order station that read, “WE PROUDLY SERVE ALL OUR BURGERS WELL DONE.” So you prefer loading up your burgers with carcinogens, do you? Because that’s what happens when you overcook beef in any form, to say nothing about cooking out all the flavor. I’ve eaten at the Bel Air store twice, once because one of my favorite HCPS schools was running a fundraiser out of there. Curiously, that sign proclaiming pride in burning burgers to death was missing. No matter: Both times, the food was pathetic. Never again.
Food and cooking is chemistry. Foods being stored at the right temps are no joke. Keep in mind that children often die when poisoned by e.coli. It causes profuse diarrhea and vomiting. Children often contract this foodbourne illness from inadequate cooking time and temp and improper storage temps. This happened at a Jack In The Box in Ca. Some years ago and a few kids, ages 2 – 5 died.
Do not Throw the suspect food in the trash, send it to the detention center so the trash over their can eat it, if they get e-coli no big deal, one less a-hole to support.
You belong to the group of people that make me cry for the world. They are serving their sentence. Forgive their misguildedness, try to be that person that alters a course of reason and productivity in their troubled lives; but don’t suggust that murder is solution.
I used to work produce at Bel air Shoprite and trust me there’s a lot more to worry about than just wrong temperatures. They could be a lot more picky if they wanted to be.
What do the violations at The Mallet mean? Not protecting the food from adulteration? Does that just mean not properly covered? Has it been shut down?
I’ve spent 135 years in the food business, reading the comments here makes me know im the expert.
I can tell you without doubt for your own health safety its not a good idea to eat a hotdog that is 1 degree off temperature.
Don’t read too much into the little details, the Harford County Health Dept is very (almost too) strict.
Eliza T,
I guess you don’t have kids in t he schools that failed. Is that okay with you?
If they’re anything like the building inspectors, then yes, they are. Don’t get me started on them!
This is almost libelous, based on the image supplied, which infers the restaurants were shut down. They mostly got dinged for temps. The inspector appeared to be on a temperature violation kick.
Why not also list the food places that passed?
It would be good for all businesses and motivate them all by rewarding good behavior.
Focusing on only the failures shows consumers where not to go, but if the places that passed were included then consumers would frequent those businesses and in turn motivate more businesses to pass.
The constant chicken little ‘sky is falling’ reporting is disingenuous.
Here is an education about Health Department Inspections:
There is no pass/fail or grading system. Even if a food service establishment may have corrected a violation immediately on the spot, it’s too late as they have already been sited for a critical violation. There is a little bit of trickery that seems portrayed above. I shame the dagger for not posting the FULL HD reports but only taking pieces out to negatively portray the above mentioned establishments.
The local health department I feel needs to answer to this large discrepancy and settle their differences with the dagger. It appears that it’s not safe to eat anywhere in Harford County unless you are Wawa. Wawa seems to be exempt from violations of any kind…….suspicious. However, the grossest of the gross are not on here–ever. I just don’t get it…..
The thing that puzzles me is that down south where ever you choose to eat (restuarant, fast food, gas station, or even a stand/food cart) the rating (A, B, or C) is placed above the door for all to see the same day as its done. In this state we are lucky to find out just imagine if it were like the south; no matter what grade it is you have a genral idea of what passed and failed. Most people wont eat at a C resturant because its about to be shut down…. Just think about the food you ate at these places and the risks you unknowingly took just for a meal.