Wichita inspections: Dirty dishes, fruit flies, rotting citrus, ants at soda fountain
Nine businesses in the Wichita area including a gas station and several restaurants and grocery stores failed their Kansas Department of Agriculture food and lodging safety inspections from May 1-7, a check of reports for Sedgwick County shows.
Information about the businesses and violations, compiled May 13, appears below with a summary of the problems inspectors noted on their reports. More details, including specific violation descriptions, are posted in The Eagle’s searchable database of non-compliant restaurant and hotel inspections at www.kansas.com/databases.
More than 70 businesses surveyed during the same time period passed their inspections with few or no violations. You can see those at www.foodsafety.kda.ks.gov/FoodSafety/Web/Inspection/PublicInspectionSearch.aspx.
Failing an inspection doesn’t necessarily mean a business has to close; that’s rare. Most violations are minor and are immediately corrected on site in front of an inspector.
Businesses fall out of compliance with state rules when they have too many violations or certain types of problems that can increase the risk of a customer contracting a food-borne illness, or when a problem can’t be fixed right away such as plumbing issues and pest infestations.
When a business fails, it’s usually inspected again within 10 days.
To complain about conditions anywhere that serves or sells food to the public, email kda.fsl@ks.gov or call 785-564-6767.
Recent out-of-compliance inspections
Aldi, 765 N. Maize Road in Wichita — One violation on May 2 for not having hot-enough water at women’s bathroom sink. The grocery store was in compliance at its May 12 follow-up inspection.
Dillons, 2244 N. Rock Road Court in Wichita — Eight violations on May 5 for employee not washing hands after handling raw meat and fat, severely dented cans on sale shelves, package of bacon lost its vacuum seal, cooked Canadian bacon stored next to raw bacon in cooler, bologna stored next to raw sausage, twice baked potatoes stored on same shelf as raw meats, raw poultry products stored above raw pork and beef products, cheesecake and brownie desserts weren’t cold enough in cooler, Gouda cheese stored at room temperature overnight, cracked and broken spatulas, plumbing issue in cold meat processing room, unlabeled bucket of liquid in bakery. Next inspection: May 15.
Dudley’s Irish Pub, 8550 E. 21st St. in Wichita — Three violations on May 2 for not keeping lettuce and cheese cold enough in refrigerated table, old capicola deli meat, cutting boards have “black discoloration and deep cuts” which make them hard to clean and sanitize. Next inspection: July 2.
Mercadito Salvadoreno, 1660 S. George Washington Blvd. in Wichita — Eight violations on May 2 for storing scoops in bulk containers of canary seeds and dried hot peppers, packages of dried mackerel and dried anchovies labeled “keep refrigerated” were stored at room temperature, chicken tamales weren’t labeled with preparation date, individually packaged pastries weren’t labeled, mozzarella cheese package didn’t have allergens listed, cracked rubber spatulas, no food thermometer, no equipment to test strength of sanitizer, medications weren’t labeled in English. Results of the business’ scheduled May 12 follow-up inspection were not available when this list was compiled.
The Monarch, 579 W. Douglas in Wichita — Twelve violations on May 3 for rotting and moldy onion and citrus fruits in cooler, pan of smoked ham wasn’t kept warm enough, ready-to-serve meats weren’t kept warm enough, sandwich- and salad-making items weren’t kept cold enough, horseradish cream and feta cheese weren’t labeled with preparation or package opening dates, about 10% of dishes in clean storage had “visible food debris” on them, dishwashers didn’t have enough sanitizer, “swarm of 20+ fruit flies” behind bar, unlabeled bottle of degreaser, lotion and glass cleaner stored next to open bag of brown sugar and stir sticks. Results of the business’ scheduled May 13 follow-up inspection were not available when this list was compiled.
PE Station, 731 N. Ridge Road in Wichita — Fourteen violations on May 3 including dented cans for sale on store shelves, shredded cheese wasn’t labeled with package opening date, no equipment to test strength of sanitizer, clean plastic container in stack still had sticker residue on it, build up of soda syrup under soda fountain, build up of powdered creamer in coffee creamer machine, plumbing issue, hand-washing sink blocked by two shelves of canned tobacco, no soap or paper towels at hand-washing sink, no sign posted in bathroom telling employees to wash hands, “approximately 10 live ants” at soda fountain, current food license wasn’t posted. Results of the business’ scheduled May 13 follow-up inspection were not available when this list was compiled.
Revolution Lounge, 233 N. Mosley in Wichita — Three violations on May 7 for not having equipment to test the strength of sanitizer in its washing machine, missing hot water valve at bar sink, no hand-drying supplies at bar hand-washing sink. Next inspection: May 17.
Spangles, 3433 N. Rock Road in Wichita — Five violations on May 4 for refrigerated items that weren’t kept cold enough including cooked chicken and cheese, cheese and scrambled eggs not labeled with the time they were supposed to be thrown out, cracked rubber spatulas and lid, food thermometers gave inaccurate temperature readings, around 10% of dishes in clean storage had food or sticker debris on them. Next inspection: May 14.
Taco Tico, 1303 N. Tyler in Wichita — Four violations on May 3 for missing food disposal procedure, not keeping food disposal time logs current, no signs in bathrooms telling employees to wash hands, current food license wasn’t posted. Results of the business’ scheduled May 13 follow-up inspection were not available when this list was compiled.
This story was originally published May 16, 2022 at 3:41 AM.
