Sacramento County health inspectors recently closed two local restaurants due to issues such as cockroaches and rat droppings. In addition to these closures, a liquor store, a brewery, and other food-serving establishments received yellow placards for various health violations, including mold, improperly stored food, roaches, rodent droppings, and flies. A yellow placard indicates two or more major violations, which are usually corrected or mitigated during the inspection process.
A red placard signifies an “imminent danger to public health and safety” and results in the suspension of the health permit until violations are addressed. This could include major vermin contamination among other serious health hazards. On the other hand, a green placard indicates that a restaurant has passed the inspection. The county conducts around 14,000 inspections annually, with the majority of restaurants passing their inspections. However, around 1% of inspections result in closures.
One of the restaurants shut down by health inspectors was Fresh off Da Boat Chef T’s, which was closed due to a broken sink but reopened the following day. Other restaurants, such as Pho Saigon and Bambi Vegan Tacos, received violations related to issues like presence of cockroaches, rat droppings, and improper food holding temperatures. Despite these violations, the restaurants were reinspected and eventually received green placards, indicating that they meet health standards.
Various other establishments also received health violations during inspections in late April and early May, resulting in conditional passes. For example, Los Jarritos Restaurant, Discount Grocery, T&Y Market, Kabul Fish and Chips, Osprey 1 Liquor and Food, Urban Roots Brewing, and Plank Craft Kitchen and Bar were cited for violations such as rodent droppings, mold, improper food handling, and lack of sanitation supplies. These establishments were scheduled for reinspection to ensure that the violations were corrected.
Overall, regular health inspections are crucial for ensuring that food-serving establishments comply with health and safety regulations to protect public health. While most restaurants pass their inspections, closures and red placards are necessary in cases where there are serious health hazards present. It is essential for restaurant owners to address violations promptly to maintain a safe and sanitary environment for their customers. The Sacramento Bee will continue to provide updates on health inspections across Sacramento County to keep the public informed about food safety in the area.
