Latest news with #EnvironmentalHealthDivision
Yahoo
03-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Which Merced County food business failed health inspections this week?
Reality Check is a Merced Sun-Star series holding those in power to account and shining a light on their decisions. Have a tip? Email tips@ In recent inspections conducted over the past week, one Merced County food business earned a failing grade in a food-safety inspection from the county's Environmental Health Division. Three restaurants across the county were inspected between April 25 through May 1. One received a good rating and one received a satisfactory rating. The county gives 'good' ratings to businesses with six or fewer violation points, 'satisfactory' ratings for seven to 13 violation points, and 'unsatisfactory' ratings for 14 or more violation points. The one 'unsatisfactory' rating was given to Tacos El Tono, located on 9th Street in Los Banos. During an April 29 inspection violations found at restaurant included: ▪ Potentially hazardous foods shall be held at or below 41-45 degrees or at or above 135 degrees. ▪ All food employees shall have adequate knowledge of and be trained in food safety as it relates to their assigned duties. The person in charge shall have adequate knowledge of, and shall educate employees of the food facility regarding major food allergens. ▪ When time only, rather than time and temperature is used as a public health control, records and documentation must be maintained. ▪ Any potentially hazardous foods cooked, cooled and subsequently reheated for hot holding or serving shall be brought to a minimum temperature of 165 degrees. Those problems and others added up to 24 violation points for the restaurant. Champion Grill Buffet in Merced received a satisfactory grade during a May 1 inspection. This was a follow-up inspection after the restaurant earned an unsatisfactory grade on April 10. The buffet restaurant received seven violation points on May 1 for not having an adequate, protected, pressurized, potable supply of hot water and cold water shall be provided at all times. The inspections represent a snapshot of conditions found at the time of a visit and may not indicate a pattern of good or bad food safety practices. 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. But some violations are considered more serious and, in some instances, can result in immediate closure of restaurants or food businesses when they are observed by health inspectors. Those may include insect or vermin infestations; 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 that 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. Merced County's Environmental Health Division maintains a database of restaurant and food inspections online for public viewing at its web page, click the 'Food Inspections' tab along the left side of the page.
Yahoo
29-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Two Merced County food businesses failed March health inspections. What was found?
In the past two weeks of inspections, two Merced County food business earned a failing grade in a food-safety inspection from the county's Environmental Health Division. Twenty-five restaurants, schools, markets and other food businesses across the county were inspected between March 12 through March 26. Twenty of them currently received 'good' ratings, including seven where no violation points were noted. Five scored 'satisfactory' grades. The county gives 'good' ratings to businesses with six or fewer violation points, 'satisfactory' ratings for seven to 13 violation points, and 'unsatisfactory' ratings for 14 or more violation points. The two 'unsatisfactory' ratings was given to Mr. Taco in Los Banos and 7-Eleven, located on Bell Drive in Atwater. During a March 20 inspection, violations found at Mr. Taco included: ▪ Potentially hazardous foods shall be held at or below 41-45 degrees Fahrenheit or at or above 135 degrees. ▪ All food employees shall have adequate knowledge of and be trained in food safety as it relates to their assigned duties. The person in charge shall have adequate knowledge of, and shall educate employees of the food facility regarding major food allergens. ▪ Failure to keep food pure and free from contamination, adulteration and spoilage. Any food is adulterated if it bears or contains any poisonous or deleterious substance that may render it impure or injurious to health. Those problems and others added up to 15 violation points for the drive-thru restaurant. During a March 24 inspection, 7-Eleven, located at 1507 Bell Dr., Atwater received 21 points in violations, which included: ▪ An adequate, protected, pressurized, potable supply of hot water and cold water shall be provided at all times. ▪ All food contact surfaces of utensils and equipment shall be clean and sanitized. ▪ Handwashing soap and single use towels or drying device shall be provided in dispensers adjacent to each handwashing facility; dispensers shall be maintained in good repair. A follow-up inspection conducted on March 25 showed no violations and upgraded the rating to good. Businesses that received perfect scores with no violation points were: ▪ Alicia Reyes Elementary School in Merced ▪ Marshalls in Atwater ▪ Deli Sosio in Dos Palos ▪ Hoover Middle School in Merced ▪ Don Stowell Elementary School in Merced ▪ McDonald's on Olive Drive in Merced ▪ Sheehy Elementary School in Merced The inspections represent a snapshot of conditions found at the time of a visit and may not indicate a pattern of good or bad food safety practices. 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. But some violations are considered more serious and, in some instances, can result in immediate closure of restaurants or food businesses when they are observed by health inspectors. Those may include insect or vermin infestations; 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 that 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. Merced County's Environmental Health Division maintains a database of restaurant and food inspections online for public viewing at its web page, click the 'Food Inspections' tab along the left side of the page.
Yahoo
26-03-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
New Ramsey County Environmental Service Center to open April 1
A new environmental service center for household waste and other services in Ramsey County is opening just in time for spring cleaning. Located at 1700 Kent St. in Roseville, the service center opens April 1 and will be accessible year-round. It features a covered drive-through for dropping off hazardous household waste – such as paint and cleaners – and electronic waste. It also accepts food scraps and general recycling and has space for fix-it clinics and a free product reuse room. Household products that have the words 'caution,' 'warning,' 'danger' or 'poison' on their labels and still have product inside are considered hazardous and should not go in the trash, according to the county. Except for propane tanks, all empty containers can go in the trash. The location also includes electric vehicle charging stations, rain barrels, native plantings and gardens and paths to nearby walking, biking and transit corridors. 'And the facility expands environmental health services, enhances accessibility and aligns with our solid waste management goals. So it will improve equity and environmental justice while operating at no cost to residents,' said District 2 Commissioner Mary Jo McGuire at a board of commissioners meeting earlier this month. The county broke ground on the $29.7 million center in 2023. It is more than 30,000 square feet, uses solar and geothermal power, and is designed to reduce energy use and keep a low carbon footprint. The center is part of the county's 'Enhancing Environmental Health Services' initiative, meant to redesign and provide more recycling and waste disposal services to the community, and was developed based on feedback from a 2020 resident survey. Earth Week, at the end of April, will feature activities at the center like an open house and a fix-it clinic. The first 200 people dropping off household hazardous waste or electronics starting April 22 will receive giveaways. The center was funded with the county environmental charge on trash bills, which supports most environmental health programs. The charge will not increase as a result of the project and ongoing operations will be built into the Environmental Health Division budget. Services offered at Bay West, the year-round household hazardous waste site on Empire Drive in St. Paul, will move to the new facility. • What: Ramsey County Environmental Service Center. • Where: 1700 Kent St. in Roseville. • When: Starting April 1, year-round Tuesdays through Fridays from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. or Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Closed on county holidays and Christmas Eve. • What to know: As part of Earth week, the center will host an open house April 24 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. and a Fix-it Clinic on April 26 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. See what items the center accepts at Charges: Convicted sex offender raped woman in St. Paul after meeting her on dating app St. Paul motorist sentenced for killing woman with her car in Maplewood before planned fight 'Just too trusting': North metro woman shares bank scam story in hopes of sparing others Could the Gold Line spur economic development? Some say it already has. Ramsey County to hire 80 employees to eliminate Medicaid backlogs
Yahoo
18-03-2025
- Yahoo
3 youths nabbed after pursuit from Camarillo; sewage spill ends up in T.O. park
A vehicle pursuit that started in Camarillo ended with the arrest of three minors in Los Angeles County, authorities said. A deputy with the Ventura County Sheriff's Office reportedly spotted a stolen Kia Sportage near Lewis Road in Camarillo just after midnight, said sheriff's Capt. Nick Odenath. The driver failed to yield when the deputy initiated a traffic stop, instead driving onto southbound Highway 101, Odenath said. The deputy continued the pursuit on the highway with additional authorities joining near Thousand Oaks, the captain said. The Kia exited the highway at De Soto Avenue in Woodland Hills, finally stopping near Serrania Avenue and Wells Drive, he said. Three juveniles exited the vehicle. They were taken into custoday and eventually turned over to their parents, Odenath said. The vehicle was towed from the site, he added. A 250,000-gallon sewage spill in Thousand Oaks Friday made its way down a trail at Wildwood Regional Park and into North Fork Conejo Creek, authorities said. The city of Thousand Oaks has since cleaned up debris on the trail and has started water quality testing, according to a news release Monday from Ventura County's Environmental Health Division. Around 11:15 a.m. Friday, the sewage exited a sewer system maintenance hole near the cul-de-sac of Flaming Star Avenue and flowed into the park and down to the creek, authorities said. The sewer line has since been cleared of debris. Fifteen warning signs were posted throughout the park and are expected to stay up until at least Tuesday, the news release says. Residents are advised to avoid contact with the affected areas until the signs are removed. Ernesto Centeno Araujo covers breaking news for the Ventura County Star. He can be reached at ecentenoaraujo@ This article originally appeared on Ventura County Star: 3 youths arrested after pursuit; sewage spill reaches T.O. park, creek
