Roaches, rodent poop in bowls, expired meds at Wichita KS restaurants, stores
Rodent poop in bowls, mouse droppings in storerooms and around food preparation areas, roaches, employees who didn’t wash their hands, filthy kitchen conditions, expired medications for sale and more are among violations state inspectors discovered during recent food safety and lodging inspections in the Wichita area.
Each week, The Eagle adds to its searchable database of failed inspections from Sedgwick County. Ten restaurants and other businesses were non-compliant with state regulations from May 10-16.
Inspectors found few or no violations that week at more than 50 other locations deemed compliant with food safety and lodging rules.
Kansas Department of Agriculture inspections are meant to protect the public from foodborne illnesses and other health risks. Locations can fail if they have too many problems, certain types of violations or issues that can’t be fixed right away.
Violations are common. Most of the time, they’re corrected in front of an inspector. Examples of things that can be addressed immediately include serving food that’s more than a week old, employees mishandling ingredients and dirty kitchens. Issues that may take longer to correct include pest infestations, power outages and plumbing problems.
It’s rare, but a business may be temporarily shut down over violations.
Locations that fail are usually reinspected within 10 days.
The list in this report was compiled on May 22 using information available from the state on that date. It covers Sedgwick County only.
But you can search food safety and lodging inspection results elsewhere in Kansas at https://foodsafety.kda.ks.gov/FoodSafety/Web/Inspection/PublicInspectionSearch.aspx.
Out-of-compliance inspections
Blalock’s Seafood Restaurant, 803 N. West St. in Wichita — Four violations on May 12 during a complaint inspection. Rear door was open and there was a gap at the bottom which can allow pests to enter, mouse droppings in storerooms and under equipment, accumulation of equipment in storerooms, mouse droppings under shelves and in other areas. Next inspection: May 22.
Da Nang Bistro, 1845 S. Rock Road, Suite 105 in Wichita — Eleven violations on May 15 during a routine inspection. Employee touched dirty dishes then handled clean dishes without washing hands, no written plan for cleaning up vomit or diarrhea, employee touched ready-to-eat bean sprouts with bare hands, employee drank from a cup and then touched raw meat without changing gloves, glove left in container of raw pork, raw pork wasn’t kept cold enough, food thermometers weren’t calibrated correctly, rodent poop in bowls, employee was using a hand-washing sink to hold a container of cooked beef blood, no paper towels at hand-washing sink, dried rodent poop under counters, general cleanliness of restaurant is poor. Next inspection: May 25.
Home2 Suites Wichita Northeast, 2012 N. Crossmark Place in Wichita — One violation on May 13 during a follow-up inspection. The smoke detector in a disability room is a standard alarm that does not flash to alert people who are hearing impaired. The hotel passed a follow-up inspection the next day.
Larcher’s Market, 3555 E. Douglas, Suite 100 in Wichita — One violation on May 13 during a complaint inspection. Several foods including meats and vegetables weren’t cold enough in refrigerated prep tables. Next inspection: May 23.
MD’s Kwik E Mart, 4628 S. Seneca in Wichita — Six violations on May 11 during an expired license inspection. No written plan for cleaning up vomit or diarrhea, store was selling food that was made in an employee’s home, nutty butter bars were being sold without retail labeling, no soap or paper towels at bathroom hand-washing sink, expired medication for sale. Next inspection: May 21.
Oliver C Store 1, 2001 S. Oliver in Wichita — Three violations on May 11 during an expired license inspection. No paper towels at bathroom sink, expired allergy and cold medicine for sale, store was operating without a valid food license. Next inspection: May 21.
Oliver C Store 2, 1350 N. Oliver in Wichita — Four violations on May 13 during an expired license inspection. No soap available in public bathroom, no paper towels at sink in employee bathroom, expired medication for sale, store was operating without a valid food license. Next inspection: May 23.
Riverside Cafe, 9125 W. Central in Wichita — Nine violations on May 13 during an expired license inspection. Employee didn’t use soap or paper towels when washing hands, employee didn’t wash hands after cracking raw eggs, raw eggs were stored on top of pans of ham and cheese, fish was thawing in intact vacuum packaging which can increase the risk of harmful bacteria forming, hash browns were sitting out at room temperature, the only food thermometer in the restaurant can’t read temperatures below 100 degrees, no sanitizer in dishwashing machine, no soap or paper towels at hand-washing sinks. Next inspection: May 23.
TJ’s Burger House, 1003 W. Douglas in Wichita — One violation on May 13 during a modified complaint inspection. Roaches around cook line and by freezer. Next inspection: May 23.
Tropical Smoothie Cafe, 2768 N. Maize Road in Wichita — One violation on May 12 during an expired license inspection. Food including chicken and vegetables was not cold enough in a make table. Next inspection: May 22.
Where to complain
If you see problems at a food or lodging establishment, you can file a complaint.
To notify the state about unsavory or questionable conditions anywhere that serves or sells food to the public, email kda.fsl@ks.gov or call 785-564-6767. You can also file a complaint at www.foodsafetykansas.org.
To report an illness you think was caused by a restaurant, food or event where food was served, contact the Kansas Department of Health and Environment at 877-427-7317 or www.foodsafetykansas.org.
Complaints about conditions at hotels and motels can be submitted at www.agriculture.ks.gov/public-resources/comments-complaints/lodging-complaint.
For more information about foodborne illnesses, visit www.foodsafety.gov.
Note: Sometimes addresses listed — especially for mobile vendors and food trucks — are not where food is actually served to the public. Contact those establishments directly for specific service locations.
