Rodent activity detected at two places during January 2022 food safety inspections in Berks County

The Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture keeps records of food safety inspections at restaurants and food vendors.

Berks County is divided into three jurisdictions: Reading, Muhlenberg Township and the rest of the county. Reading and Muhlenberg Township have their own inspectors and the rest of the county is inspected by Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture inspectors.

The results will be posted every other week. All food vendors are inspected at least once a year. Other inspections can be triggered by a change of owner, a follow up if a facility had been out of compliance or by a complaint filed with the PDA.

View any vendor’s last inspection report online. Click on the PDF version of the inspection report for all details.

If a food provider is labeled out of compliance, that means it has one or more violations that require a return visit by an inspector. The establishment is given time to fix the problem(s) and remains open for business.

Complaints can be filed online with the PDA.

Below are the results of inspections conducted between Jan. 5, 2022, and Jan. 18, 2022, that were filed in the state database as of Jan. 20 at 5 p.m.

Berks

Saucony Creek Grille & Catering, 9 E. Main St., Kutztown , January 18: seven violations. The Person in Charge does not have adequate knowledge of food safety in this food facility as evidenced by this non-compliant inspection. A food employee was observed preparing sandwiches with bare hands. Non-food contact surfaces of deli slicer, as well as equipment handles are not cleaned at a frequency to preclude accumulation of dirt and soil. Rubber cement and painting supplies were stored on a shelf above food and utensils in the backroom. Several TCS foods were held at 52°F in the reach-in cooler, rather than 41°F or below as required. PIC is in process of repairing cooler. Observed disposable grocery bags being used for food storage, the material characteristics of which do not meet the requirements for a food contact surface. Observed the facility is using an unapproved sanitizer (Thymol) for sanitizing food contact surfaces.
Out of compliance.

Chick-Fil-A #0421, 1665 State Hill Road Suite 930, Wyomissing , Jan. 10: no violations.

Longhorn Steakhouse #5467, 1085 Woodland Road, Wyomissing , Jan. 10: three violations. Observed two bags of cheese stored below raw steaks in the refrigeration unit at the left end of the cooking line. Corrected. Thermometer for ensuring proper temperature of equipment is not available or readily accessible in the small dessert refrigerator. Corrected. Hood filter is damaged and is not properly in place above the grill. –One of the plastic sliding doors on the ice machine is damaged and some pieces of plastic are missing.

Northkill Rod & Gun Club, 1040 North Kill Lane, Bernville , Jan. 10: no violations.

Sheetz #603, 8555 Lancaster Ave., Bethel , Jan. 10: three violations. Mop sink has a hose attachment that is hanging below the flood rim of the sink and not an appropriate air gap. Corrected. Front counter smoothie ice bin has a foam gasket around drawer frame that is flaking/deteriorating and could possibly drop pieces into ice bin. Non-food contact surfaces not cleaned at a frequency to preclude accumulation of dirt and soil. Ledges of front counter freezer drawer have old food debris build up.

Bar Cart, 713 Penn Ave., West Reading , Jan. 7: one violation. Food facility does not have available sanitizer test strips to determine appropriate sanitizer concentration at the 3-compartment sink.

Cherry’s Jamaican Delight, 711 Penn Ave., West Reading , Jan. 7: one violation. Two working containers (spray bottles) of cleaner were stored with clean food utensils in the back kitchen area. Corrected.

Stonersville Hotel, 5701 Boyertown Pike, Birdsboro , Jan. 7: no violations.

Bella Italia Pizza Restaurant, 1064 Memorial Highway , Oley , Jan. 6: two violations. Thermometer for ensuring proper temperature of equipment is not available or readily accessible in the sandwich bain marie. Food facility does not have available sanitizer test strips to determine appropriate sanitizer concentration.

Chatty’s, 3130 Pricetown Road, Fleetwood , Jan. 6: five violations. Door located in the back kitchen area of the food facility is deteriorated/has a gap and does not protect against the entry of insects, rodents, and other pests. Observed an accumulation of dirt and old food debris on the floor under the refrigerators and dishwashing equipment in the back kitchen area. Grease trap in the back kitchen area is rusty and there is liquid residue on the floor at the base of the unit. Several light fixtures in the back kitchen area and dining room are not working. Food facility inspection indicates evidence of rodent activity in the area of the deteriorated back door.

Craft And Barrel, 5 Centre Ave., Topton , Jan. 6: three violations. Soda gun nozzles, a food contact surface, were observed to have a build-up of residue and were not clean to sight and touch. Corrected. Observed rubber spatulas and silicone-coated whisk to be deteriorated, and not durable under normal use in the food facility. Corrected by removal. Fan near the 3-compartment sink has a buildup of dust and is in need of cleaning.

Creekside Pleasantville Diner, 2644 W Philadelphia Ave., Oley , Jan. 6: no violations.

Dollar General #4919, 2980 Saint Lawrence Ave., Reading , Jan. 6: one violation. Food facility inspection indicates evidence of rodent activity.

Oley Valley Organics Organic And Natural Foods, 3071 W. Philadelphia Ave., Oley , Jan. 6: two violations. Thermometer for ensuring proper temperature of equipment is not available or readily accessible in the sandwich bain marie. Food facility does not have available sanitizer test strips to determine appropriate sanitizer concentration.

Shady Mountain Market, 219 Dryville Road, Fleetwood , Jan. 6: no violations.

Special Occasions By Panevino, 600 E. Penn Ave. Unit 1, Wernersville , Jan. 6: no violations.

Aby’s Kitchen, 241 Godfrey St., Bethel , Jan. 5: no violations.

Boston Market #3605, 140 Wilderness Trail, Hamburg , Jan. 5: five violations. Interior top of ice bin near ice drop chute has a slight mold build up. Food facility person in charge does not have records to demonstrate routine inspection and service of backflow prevention devices and other water treatment devices. Filter system for water line at soda box rack has last date of service 2018. Coving tiles missing at walk in passage doorway at walk in storage room. Coving tiles at rear door is missing and a floor tile is broken at metro steam oven area and kitchen floor drain at same area causing a ponding of stagnant/dirty water. This is a partial repeat violation. Hot water, as observed at rear hand sink, is not under pressure during inspection. Foot pedal for sink not working properly so hot water was turned off at water line. Warewashing sink drain line does not have an air gap at floor drain.

Burger King #0282, 4890 Perkiomen Ave., Reading , Jan. 5: four violations. A hood filter is missing above the fryers. A bottle of cleaner was stored directly against packs of straws in the back storage area. Corrected. The plastic sticker dispenser on the shelves near the burger freezer has an accumulation of dried food debris. Ceiling vent near the fryers has a heavy build-up of dust/dirt. Observed an accumulation of dirt and some old food debris on the floor under equipment/shelving throughout the kitchen and storage areas.

Dunkin Donuts #352111, 2458 Perkiomen Ave., Reading , Jan. 5: four violations. Paper towel dispensers empty at the handwash sinks in the front and kitchen areas. Corrected. Plumbing system not maintained in good repair – observed hot water leaking from the faucet at the 3-compartment sink. Observed old food and paper products on the bottom of the drawer section of the bain marie unit. There is a large liquid spill/puddle on the floor under the front counter. Scoop being stored directly on top of the ice machine.

Pizza Hut #37146, 204 Lancaster Ave., Reading , Jan. 5: no violations.

Power Gas & Mini Mart, 150 Main St., Strausstown , Jan. 5: three violations. Bagged ice prepackaged in the store does not contain a label with source of ice. Door to ice labeled with sign until bags are labeled. Nozzles of the slushie machine have a mold build up along bottom rim and nozzle area. Ice machine in storage room has mold build up along sides and top of interior bin. The food facility does not have the original certificate for the certified food employee posted in public view.

Sophia’s Italian Restaurant & Pizzeria, 3150 St. Lawrence Ave., Reading , Jan. 5: no violations.

Trainer’s Midway Diner, Route 78 Exit 16 & Midway Road, Bethel , Jan. 5: no violations.

Muhlenberg Township

Mod Super Fast Pizza LLC, 4300 N. Fifth Street Highway, Jan. 8: three violations. Observed clean food equipment stored while wet, Inadequate time allowed for draining and/or air-drying. A ServSafe Food Employee Certification is displayed, but the individual is no longer employed by the food establishment. Current manager plans to attend ServSafe as scheduled by employer within 90 days. Ham, a potentially hazardous ready-to-eat food requiring date marking, in the walk-in refrigerator was beyond the date-marking by 1 day and required discarding. Corrected on inspection immediately.

Stark Juice, 2934 N. Fifth Street Highway, Jan. 8: one violation. Current certificate not posted.

Thai Cuisine, 502 Eisenbrown St., Jan. 8: three violations. Multiple foods in the cook’s refrigerator stored open with no covering. Observed floors under equipment with an accumulation of dust and grease. Observed fryer with build up of grease/soil on sides, and between adjacent equipment. Observed cook’s refrigerator door tracks with soil build-up. Fan guard in walk-in refrigerator is soiled with build-up of dust, which potentially can contaminate foods stored in walk-in refrigerator.

Reading

ASJS Mini Market LLC, 536 Bingaman St., Jan. 13: no violations.

Laurel Mini Mart, 624 Laurel St., Jan. 13: two violations. Floor in several areas of the facility is damaged down to bare wood and is not a smooth, easily cleanable surface. Mops are not being hung to air dry.

Mofongo Restaurant, 124 S. Fifth St., Jan. 13: no violations.

Neag Kitchen, 1010 Centre Ave., Jan. 13: no violations.

The Childrens Home Neag Kitchen 344329, 1040 Nicolls St., Jan. 13: no violations.

Reading Distillery Guild, 503 Penn St., Jan. 12: no violations.

Brendaly & Estefania Grocery, 1201 N. 10th St., Jan. 11: two violations. Interior of freezer, was observed to have a large amount of dried blood at the base and was very unsanitary. Observed damaged and missing floor tiles throughout retail area

Joeys Variety Store 339095, 1701 Centre Ave., Jan. 11: no violations.

Reneacer Grocery LLC, 301 N. Front St., Jan. 11: no violations.

3 Brothers Mexican Grill, 1635 Centre Ave., Jan. 10: one violation. Observed No paper towel dispenser. In food prep/retail area.

Daniela Grocery, 600 Tulpehocken St., Jan. 10: no violations.

Dariel Deli And Grocery, 151 N. Fourth St., Jan. 10: no violations.

Shreehari Store, 100 N. Fifth St., Jan. 10: no violations.

Stork Hotel A3403010, 301 S. Eighth St., Jan. 7: no violations.

La Cocina Picante 363262, 315 N. Ninth St., Jan. 5: two violations. Non-food contact surfaces not cleaned at a frequency to preclude accumulation of dirt and soil. (Floor and wall surfaces) Dishes and utensils observed in the handwash sink, indicating uses other than handwashing.

La Grang Azul Poll Cevichria, 418 S. 19th St., Jan. 5: no violations.