Sonic, Popeyes locations in Fresno closed briefly for wastewater drainage issues

A pair of fast food restaurants were temporarily closed in November after failing inspections from Fresno County Public Health Department.

At each, inspectors found issues with wastewater drainage; violations that pose health hazard and trigger immediate closure and re-inspection.

The Popeyes on Shaw Avenue west of Brawley had “observed water coming up from the floor sink next to food prep sink” and from a floor drain next to the three-compartment dishwashing sink, according to a Nov. 3 inspection report. That sink had gray water coming up when in use. According to the report, available online, the restaurant was closed for a day while the sinks were repaired and the violations corrected.

There were similar issues at a Sonic Drive-In on Herndon Avenue in Clovis. That restaurant was closed due to a clogged grease trap that caused “visible waste water pooling around drains” inside the food prep area, according to a Nov. 13 inspection report. The restaurant fixed the problem and was allowed to reopen the following day.

In all, Fresno County reported nine food businesses in its facility closures report for November.

The list includes:

* Pic ‘N’ Go, a convenience store on Chestnut Avenue and Belmont, was not allowed to use its soda or Slushie machines due to lack of water. This is one of the most common (and typically easily fixed) health code violations, but the store remained partially closed for more than a week, according to the health department.

* The bakery inside Island Pacific Supermarket remains closed while it works through a remodel. The business is required to submit a plan check (with includes fees) with the county.

* The Chicken Shack, which anchors the Renoir Corner on Fulton Street downtown, was closed for one day following a Nov. 12 inspection. The cause was a cockroach infestation, according to the health department.

* Also on Fulton Street, Ruiz Fresh Fruits was cited and closed for nearly a week due to a lack of hot water at the facility. A 120-degree temperature check is required, according to the Nov. 12 inspection report.

* Best Market Liquor, west of Fresno in Biola, was ordered closed due to a rodent infestation and an “overall lack of cleanliness.” According to a Nov. 25 report, an inspection was initiated by a complaint of food-borne illness. The closure affected the market and an accompanying restaurant. Both were allowed to reopen within a few days.

How do county health inspections work?

The Fresno County Public Health Department 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.

They make unannounced visits several times a year, but are also called out following fires, or in response to complaints or other concerns from the public. This includes when people report what they believe are health or sanitation issues at restaurants (see above).

When inspectors visit a restaurant or other food service business, there is a lengthy and detailed list of more than 50 items that can be cause for violations.

It can be simple and bureaucratic: whether the business has the proper license or permit or have submitted plans for a remodel (to check an example above). It might be whether the manager and employees have the required food safety or food-handling certificates. But it can also be things like: the hygiene of individual employees or temperature control systems (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; the overall cleanliness of a building (are restrooms stocked with supplies, for example) or where sinks and floor drains are working properly.

Inspectors chronicle their findings in reports made available to the public in a searchable database online.

In most instances, if an inspector finds a problem, it’s something that can be fixed on the spot. That includes things like 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.

Serious violations, those that pose an imminent health hazard, will trigger closure and mandatory reinspections. This includes things like rat or roach infestations, or a lack of hot water, but also refrigerators that don’t keep food cold enough or steam tables that don’t keep food hot enough to inhibit bacterial growth. Clogged sinks or drains, can also call for a closure, as contaminated water can back up into kitchens (again, see closures listed above).

The department logs these closures in its online report each month.

Six businesses were temporarily closed in October. Most reopened within days. Including last month, the total number of restaurants and food businesses that been temporarily closed following health department inspections this year now stands at 82.