Roach problem, moldy produce, flies landing on food at Wichita KS restaurants

Yahoo

2 days ago

Living and dead roaches on glue traps throughout a restaurant kitchen, moldy and damaged fruits and vegetables, employees who didn't wash their hands and change gloves properly before handling customer food, dishes that weren't sanitized, old food, flies landing on food and more are among violations Kansas Department of Agriculture inspectors discovered during recent food safety and lodging inspections in the Wichita area.
Each week, The Eagle adds to its searchable database of failed inspections from Sedgwick County. Six restaurants and other businesses were non-compliant with state regulations from May 18-24.
Inspectors found few or no violations at more than 50 other locations deemed compliant with food safety and lodging rules. Inspections are meant to protect the public from foodborne illnesses and other health risks.
Locations can fail if they have too many problems, certain types of violations or issues that can't be fixed right away. Violations are common. Most of the time, businesses correct issues in front of an inspector.
Examples of things that can be addressed immediately are serving food that's more than a week old, employees mishandling ingredients and dirty kitchens. Issues that take longer to correct include pest infestations, power outages and plumbing problems.
It's rare, but a business may temporarily shut down over violations. Places that fail are usually reinspected within 10 days.
The list in this story was compiled on May 28 using information available from the state on that date. It covers Sedgwick County. But you can search food and lodging inspection results elsewhere in Kansas at https://foodsafety.kda.ks.gov/FoodSafety/Web/Inspection/PublicInspectionSearch.aspx.
Blue Fin Sake Bar and Sushi, 255 N. Washington in Wichita — One violation on May 22 during an inspection that was a follow-up to an administrative order. Multiple live and dead roaches on glue traps throughout the kitchen. Next inspection: June 1.
Dillons Marketplace, 10222 W. 21st St. in Wichita — Four violations on May 21 during a routine inspection. Violations include dented cans of soup and vegetables for sale, food residue on thermometers at Starbucks and in the Chinese kitchen, moldy and damaged produce including fruit and potatoes, water didn't get hot enough at the three-compartment sink. Next inspection: May 31.
Meddys, 2300 N. Greenwich, Suite 100 in Wichita — Four violations on May 20 during a routine inspection. Violations include an employee eating and using a cellphone then touching customer food without changing gloves or washing hands, an employee handled food after touching sanitizer without changing gloves, no food thermometer, dirty pans stored as clean, unlabeled spray bottle of multi-surface cleaner. Next inspection: May 30.
Road Runner Mexican Cantina, 300 S. Greenwich in Wichita — Twelve violations on May 20 during a joint inspection. Violations include chorizo and pork sitting out at room temperature, fish wasn't cold enough in refrigerator, pan of sliced ham and pan of fried fish weren't labeled with their preparation dates, dirty knives and can opener, toilet seat was not attached, no disclosure warning customers of the risks of consuming undercooked eggs, no test strips for sanitizers, pans of cooked ground beef and cooked chorizo weren't labeled with the dates they were removed from the freezer, tomatillos weren't stored in food-safe bags, dishes weren't being sanitized, employee made a burrito with their bare hands, bottles of bleach and degreaser weren't labeled with their contents. Next inspection: May 30.
The Rushwood Senior Living, 2121 N. 143rd St. East in Wichita — Seven violations on May 20 during a complaint inspection. Violations include cheesecake that was not labeled with its package opening date, old corn, pans of ham and chicken weren't dated, dairy products and meats weren't dated, empty soap dispensers at hand-washing sinks, cheese was not cold enough in refrigeration, gallons of cleaners and disinfectants were stored with their dispensers above clean dishes. Next inspection: May 30.
Sonic Drive-In, 3648 N. Maize Road in Wichita — Five violations on May 22 during a routine inspection. Violations include cooked tater tots that weren't kept hot enough, employee didn't properly clean an ice scoop that fell onto the floor, flies landing on surfaces that touch food and on a bag of whipped cream, employee touching a tortilla after handling sanitizer without changing gloves or washing hands, no paper towels at hand-washing sink. Next inspection: June 1.
If you see problems at a food or lodging establishment, you can file a complaint.
To notify the state about unsavory or questionable conditions anywhere that serves or sells food to the public, email [e-mail] or call 785-564-6767. You can also file a complaint at www.foodsafetykansas.org.
To report an illness you think was caused by a restaurant, food or event where food was served, contact the Kansas Department of Health and Environment at 877-427-7317 or www.foodsafetykansas.org.
Complaints about conditions at hotels and motels can be submitted at www.agriculture.ks.gov/public-resources/comments-complaints/lodging-complaint.
For more information about foodborne illnesses, visit www.foodsafety.gov.
Note: Sometimes addresses listed — especially for mobile vendors and food trucks — are not where food is actually served to the public. Contact those establishments directly for specific service locations.
The violation summaries were compiled and drafted with the help of AI tools. They were fact-checked for accuracy and edited by Wichita Eagle journalists.
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