The Arkansas Department of Health regulates the sale of food at establishments which include restaurants, bars, daycares, schools, grocery stores, convenience stores, bed and breakfast facilities, hotels/motels, mobile units and concession stands. Inspections are made unannounced by environmental health specialists.
Electronic copies of retail food inspection reports are available on the Arkansas Food Inspection Portal. To access the portal, visit the food protection page on the Arkansas Department of Health website at www.healthy.arkansas.gov.
The following are the results of food safety inspections conducted by the Jefferson County Health Unit:
• Juvenile Justice Center, 301 E. Second Ave. Date of follow-up inspection Sept. 11. Observed raw bacon being stored above ready to eat foods. Raw meat should be stored below ready to eat foods. Raw meat was moved to bottom shelf during inspection.
• Country Kitchen, 4322 Dollarway Road. Date of follow-up inspection Sept. 7. Some temperatures in front reach in cooler are out of safe temperature range. Time/Temperature Control for Safety (TCS) Foods shall be kept cold at a temperature of 41.0°F or below, as measured by an internal probe thermometer, to limit bacterial growth. Single service containers observed being reused throughout establishment. Single service containers should not be reused. Seal on walk in freezer door is broken and needs to be repaired. Shelves in dry storage area are unclean and need to be cleaned. Floors and walls throughout kitchen need to be cleaned. Some parts of flooring in kitchen are damaged and need to be repaired or replaced.
Independent reporting for Pine Bluff & Jefferson County since 1879.
• Edgewood Elementary School, 4100 W. 32rd Ave. Date of inspection Sept. 7. Observation: Observed employee drink in the food preparation area without a lid and straw. (Specific observation here) Corrective Action:Discontinue consuming food, use of unapproved beverage containers, or use of tobacco in food preparation or ware-washing area.
• The Creamland, 3502 W. Sixth Ave. Date of opening inspection Sept. 4. Refrigerator did not have a thermometer. Food temperature measuring device shall be provided and readily accessible for use in ensuring attainment and maintenance of food temperature. Facility did not have test strips. Test strips must be available and used to test the strength of chemical sanitizing solutions. Okay to operate.
• Heavenly Snow and Foods, 900 W. 35th Ave. Date of opening inspection Sept. 27. This establishment is okay to operate.