Health violations can vary at Valley sites

July 23--Nearly a third of Valley restaurants, firehalls and schools whose food safety reports are available on a statewide database have at least one violation of the state's health code according to data provided by the State Department of Agriculture, the organization that oversees food inspections.

Violations can be minor -- everything from improper labeling of food or food not being stored high enough off a floor -- to more serious -- food not stored at proper temperatures. A violation, however, does not mean a restaurant is out of compliance of state guidelines, however.

According to Shannon Powers, spokesperson for the state Department of Agriculture, state law requires the department to inspect all eating and drinking establishments once per year. Inspectors can return more often if complaints are received, or if the initial inspection was not passed.

Only four Valley restaurants were labeled as non-compliant as of July 20, all four in Northumberland County. While the four establishments were labeled as non-compliant, they remain open for business Powers said.

"There could be a case were the owners can't fix the issue within that day so they are labeled as non-compliant until they are able to fix the issues," she said. "Usually that is done shortly after the inspection and a follow up occurs within 60 days."

Powers said state inspectors do their reports directly after leaving an establishment and the paperwork is sent directly back to the office where it is then uploaded to the website. Sunbury and Northumberland have their own inspector, and Powers said there may be a lag time before reports are posted online.

"It just takes more time to get to us," Powers said. "When we get those reports we get them up for public view as soon as possible."

Violation data

Inspection reports from Valley eateries are available for public view at www.pafoodsafety.pa.gov/Web/Inspection/PublicInspectionSearch.aspx.

According to the data, 327 of the 1,009 food service sites in the four-county region -- 32.4 percent -- had at least one violation on their most recent food inspection report. There were 16 across the Valley with at least five violations and five with at least seven violations.

Nearly half of the locations in the Valley that had a reported violation -- 162 of 327 -- had just a single violation, which can often be corrected during the inspection.

In Union County, one restaurant was cited for violating code 46.522, the "Materials for Surfaces that are Nonfood-Contact Surfaces." The inspector noted that the "piece of cardboard placed on a shelf under microwave is not smooth and easily cleanable." In Montour County, a restaurant was ruled in violation because employees did not have proper hair or beard restraint. According to Food Safety Magazine, the most common violations center on staff not knowing the correct temperature to cook meats, failure to use personal protective gear, gloves or hair restraints, cross contamination of foods in preparation and presence of pests, such as flies or other rodents, in the kitchen.

Some other violations include:

-- Prepackaged foods not labeled properly with manufacturer's name on product.

-- Dented soup cans on store shelves intended for use or sale.

-- Mouse droppings observed on floor.

In Montour, there were 15 violations. Nine sites recorded a single violation. None of the 59 facilities had more than 3.

Snyder County had 39 single-violation locations -- and 87 total -- among its 265 inspected properties. Three facilities had more than five violations and one had eight.

In Union County, 92 violations were reported at 252 inspected facilities. Of the 92, 47 properties had a lone violation, four had five or more and one had seven.

In Northumberland County, 67 properties had a single violation while nine had at least five, including three eateries with eight among the 433 facilities inspected. Four were non-compliant among the 133 locations with violations.

As of Friday, the state database listed four non-compliant: Darlene's Deli, in Shamokin, Home Country Baking, in Mount Carmel, The Wharf Complex, in Elysburg and the most recent one added to the list was Sweet Tooth Cafe, in Shamokin.

Darlene's Deli, Home Country Baking and The Wharf Complex, a Knoebels Amusement Park facility, are all now in compliance, according to Powers but the website was not updated. All three establishments passed their previous two inspections in 2015 and 2016 according to state data.

Sweet Tooth Cafe was labeled non-compliant following its July 17 inspection. It's report notes the rear food prep unit's food was held at 52 degrees in the kitchen area, rather than 41 degrees or below as required. Sweet Tooth opened last July and was compliant during its December review.

The Wharf Complex violations included food employees observed not wearing proper hair restraint, such as beard covers, the handwash sink located in the "Dippin Dots" areas did not have water at a temperature of at least 100 degree, and food reheating in a crockpot, according to the report. The report noted two of the violations were corrected during the visit.

At the Home Country Baking the violation was because pies were being held at 66 degrees, in a large display case, rather than 41°F or below as required. The violation was corrected during the inspection.

And Darlene's Deli was non-compliant because food employee's were observed in preparation area not wearing proper hair restraints, such as hair nets. A second violation was because a can opener blade was observed to have food residue and was not clean to sight and touch, according to reports. Powers said just because an establishment is out of compliance does not mean the restaurant was closed down. Powers said in most cases owners correct the problem that day. If they can't, the establishment will be listed as non-compliant until the problems are corrected.

County inspections

Montour County has no health officer and doesn't do restaurant inspections or food inspections, but in Danville, Scott Smith has served as health officer for the last seven years, handling inspections for the state's smallest county.

Smith said he does a full inspections at restaurants and supermarkets once a year and licenses them, inspecting between 38 and 44 facilities a year. Throughout the year, he does walk-throughs at the places. He also investigates any complaints from customers.

Smith serves part-time and issues a monthly report to Danville Borough Council.

As required by law, Smith will conduct an inspection if a business changes ownership and will do an inspection on "anything that has to do with construction of kitchen area modifications or changes."

He said he handles an average of about two complaints per year.

Snyder and Union counties both depend on the state for its inspections as do all the boroughs and townships.

Food trucks are also inspected by the state, Powers said. Although, Mary Sue Smith, a local food inspector employed by Sunbury and Northumberland, would be able to inspect a food truck if it was in her area, Powers said.

Tris West and Taffney Strous co-own Gunzey's Hot Sausage of New Columbia. They operate food stands at regional festivals -- about six this year, West said.

West said mobile concessionaires like Gunzey's are inspected at each festival. Depending on the location, it's usually performed by a state inspector.

Inspections ensure safety and quality, West said, and are a necessity.

Gunzey's last inspection was performed July 5 and no violations were noted, according to the state website.

"We've seen people get shut down. When that happens, that's a good thing for customers," West said.

West said inspections aren't something concessionaires should fear. The rules are in writing and should be familiar to business operators. Should a violation occur, West said the inspector provides guidance on how to come into compliance.

"If I wasn't doing something right, I'd want to be told so I can fix it," West said.

Matt Benner, owner of When Pigs Fly food truck, of Sunbury, said he has no issues with state inspectors coming to inspect.

"They come and they check things out once a year and sometimes when we set up at events," he said. "They look at everything and it's good so we also know if anything needs to be corrected. I have no issues with it."

Craig Bennett, who owns the Street of Shops and Roller Mills, in Lewisburg, said dealing with state inspectors is a positive.

"I think the inspectors try to approach it from a common sense aspect," Bennett said. "They point out things that would make the system or facility better."

Bennett said in one case an inspector made a suggestion about piping and Bennett said it was of value.

"They told us how to cover them to make it easier to clean," Bennett said. "We followed the advice. Our experience with the inspectors has always been positive."

Email comments to fscarcella@dailyitem.com. Follow on Twitter @scarcella11.

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