ROCKVILLE, MD — An inspector with the Montgomery County Department of Health and Human Services reported 45 violations, three of which were critical, at a food service facility in Rockville on Sept. 14.
On the same day, an HHS inspector found a Rockville ice cream shop out of compliance with the county health requirements in one area. machined insulation parts
All Montgomery County licensed retail food establishments are inspected by the Licensure & Regulatory Services Program. Regular comprehensive inspections include evaluating an establishment's sanitation, maintenance and food service operations. These inspections include monitoring critical temperatures and food handling procedures.
Both of the restaurants that inspectors visited on Sept. 11 were cited for critical violations of food safety requirements.
"A Critical Violation means a food safety requirement that requires immediate correction," according to the health and human services website. "Failure for immediate correction results in cessation of some or all food operations or closure of the facility until violation is able to be corrected."
A Montgomery County Health and Human Services inspector visited the New York Mart located at 15108 Frederick Road in Rockvilleon Sept. 14. The visit was in response to two complaints filed about the food establishment.
The person who filed the first complaint reported that the New York Mart had dead fish and that the restrooms were dirty. The second complaint concerned a report of seeing moldy ceilings within the facility.
"Upon inspection the facility was observed to not have any dead fish at time of inspection but was observed to have dead shrimp in tank at time of inspection," the report said. "Additionally facility was observed to be selling dead crabs that were not harvested on site. Product was discarded at time of inspection. Facility restrooms observed dirty at time of inspection but significantly cleaner than images provided in complaint. Facility will clean as needed. Facility was observed to have moldy ceiling tiles at seafood and meat departments due to incorrect ceiling tiles being installed and a water leak. Facility is required to replace provided tiles with clean and correct tiles."
New York Mart was found to be out of compliance in three areas: it failed to keep food protected from "adulteration, spoilage, and contamination;" and both the cold holding temperature and hot holding temperature were incorrect for food storage. All three needed to be addressed in order to bring them back into compliance.
Though not all critical violations, the inspector reported 45 violations that the food facility needed to correct. These including using incorrect ceiling tiles at the seafood and meat area and algae growing on water pipes in the seafood department.
New York Mart took corrective actions on five of the 45 violations in the report:
Also on Sept. 14, an HHS inspector visited the Marble Slab Creamery located at 100 Gibbs St. in Rockville. The inspector reported finding one critical violation, which concerned food being separated and protected from contamination, adulteration, or spoilage.
"Unwrapped waffle cones on display observed stacked right-side up without any overhead protection at front counter," the inspection report said, adding that it was a repeat violation. The cones were moved to the back counter with an overhead cover to correct the violation.
The inspector noted two other repeat violations in their report:
The inspector noted four other non-critical violations that the Marble Slab Creamery needed to address:
Mold, Droppings Found At 2 Rockville Food Establishments: Violations
Epoxy Glass Cloth Tubes Michael O'Connell, Patch Staff