November had fewest food-safety closures in Fresno County so far in 2024. What happened?
Fresno County health inspectors closed only one restaurant temporarily in November because of food-safety concerns, and that closure lasted just one day.
It’s a sharp reduction from October, when 10 food businesses had violations serious enough to warrant closure orders from inspectors with the Environmental Health Division of the Fresno County Department of Public Health.
A Nov. 12 inspection at the Mountain Mike’s Pizza restaurant at 1937 W. Clinton Avenue resulted in a closure for a day because the restaurant’s fire-suppression system had discharged in the food preparation area, requiring a cleanup of the chemicals.
The restaurant, located near Weber Avenue in a shopping center anchored by a Vallarta Supermarket, reopened the following day, according to the health department.
November’s lone closure marks the fewest of any month so far this year. October tied with January for the most of any single month in 2024 with 10. Typically, most closures last only a day or two, but some extend longer depending on the extent of the violations that need to be resolved before inspectors authorize reopening.
What inspectors look for
The Fresno County Department of Public Health has about two dozen environmental health specialists who monitor almost 5,000 restaurants, snack bars, grocery stores, commissaries, delicatessens and food vendors across the county, making unannounced visits several times a year.
Restaurants also are inspected in response to complaints or other concerns from the public, including when people report what they believe are health or sanitation issues at restaurants.
Insect or vermin infestations are violations that can result in immediate closure of restaurants or food businesses when they are observed by health inspectors.
Among other serious concerns for food safety are refrigerators that don’t keep food cold enough or steam tables that don’t keep food hot enough to inhibit bacterial growth, or clogged sinks or drains that cause contaminated water to back up into kitchens.
A lack of hot water is one of the most common violations Department of Public Health inspectors find when they make their routine visits. Hot water at a temperature of at least 120 degrees is considered important by inspectors for safely washing pots, pans, dishes and glasses, and 100 degrees for employees to wash their hands.
In most instances, if an inspector finds a problem, it’s something that can be fixed on the spot. This can include having enough bleach or sanitizer in the water used to wipe down food-preparation areas, replenishing soap, paper towels and toilet paper in the restrooms, or reminding employees to wash their hands and wear gloves and hairnets.
When inspectors visit a restaurant or other food service business, there is a lengthy and detailed list of more than 50 things that draw their scrutiny. They include:
- Whether the manager and all employees have the required food safety or food-handling certificates.
- Hygiene of individual employees.
- Ways to keep cold food at or below 41 degrees and hot food above 135 degrees.
- Use of proper sterilization for counters, tables, utensils and cookware.
- Overall cleanliness.
- Proper drainage of sinks and floor drains.
- Restrooms stocked with supplies.
- Whether the business has the proper license or permit.
This story was originally published December 9, 2024 at 11:36 AM.
