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:
• Holiday Inn Express, 2903 Pines Mall Drive. Date of inspection into complaint Nov. 19. During time of inspection, the health inspector didn’t observe any of the violations about the complaint.
• Richs Burger 2, 102 N. Walnut St. Date of inspection Oct. 31. Must have a sign or poster that notifies food workers to wash their hands at all hand-washing sinks used by food workers and shall be clearly visible to food workers. Observation: Food items in cooler are being held at an internal temperature of 50 degrees. Should be held at an internal temperature of 41 degrees or below. [List food item(s), temperature, and unit] Corrective Action: 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.
Independent reporting for Pine Bluff & Jefferson County since 1879.
• Richs Burger 2, 102 N. Walnut St. Date of follow-up inspection Nov. 16. All violations were corrected during time of inspection.
• Briggs Bar B Que Cooking, 2221 S. Olive St. Suite J. Date of inspection Nov. 14. Did not see thermometers in all food coolers. Keep them visible at all times. Saw a live roach in back area. The premises shall be maintained free of insects, rodents, and other pests and controlled to eliminate their presence on the premises. Areas of preparation and storage are not constructed/maintained as to be smooth non-absorbent and easily cleanable. Repair/refinish these areas. Fryers, cookers, under shelves etc… visibly soiled. Clean all non food contact surfaces as soon as visibly soiled. Restroom doors are not self closing. Install self closing devises on restroom doors. Women’s restroom waste can has no lid. Provide a lid for this waste can. Large trash can not currently in use has no lid. Keep lid on waste cans when not in use. Not all light bulbs in preparation areas are properly shielded from breakage. Properly shield all bulbs in preparation areas or install shatterproof bulbs. Observation: USA FOOD Program show, “business has expired license.” Corrective Action: It is unlawful to operate a retail food establishment without a valid permit. Contact the billing office at 501-661-2171 to ensure that you are in compliance with the law.
• Golden Spoon, 405 Pines Mall Drive, 301 W. 16th Ave., Apt. C. Date of opening inspection Nov. 14. No hand-washing sign at hand sink. Must have a sign or poster that notifies food workers to wash their hands at all hand-washing sinks used by food workers and shall be clearly visible to food workers. No probe thermometer. Get one to check cooking temps of foods. No thermometer in cooler. Place thermometer in cooler to be sure air temp stays below 41 degrees. Observation: No sanitizer test strips. Corrective Action: Test strips must be available and used to test the strength of chemical sanitizing solutions.
• Moody Elementary School, 700 Moody Drive, White Hall. Date of inspection Nov. 14. Observed single use containers being reused to store food in. Single use containers should not be reused.
• Areli’s mobile, Hwy 270-65 Flea Market, White Hall. Date of inspection Nov. 13. Freezer is unclean and needs to be cleaned. Running water needed before opening for business next.
• Lavender’s Barn, 4501 U.S. 65 South. Date of follow-up inspection Nov. 13. Deep freezer door is broken and needs to be replaced. Hand-washing sink leaking water from nozzle and needs to be repaired.
• Motor Way Grocery, 3432 U.S. 65 South. Date of follow-up inspection Nov. 13. Some cold-holding temperatures in walk-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. NC Single service cups at self service drink station observed being stored out of their original package and exposed to contamination. Single service items should be kept in their original packaging or by other means to protect them from contamination until being used. Observed a leak in the pipes of the three compartment sink — needs repaired. No hot water available at hand-washing sink in restroom. Hot water generation and distribution systems shall be sufficient to meet the peak hot water demands throughout the retail food establishment. Observed trash cans containing food residue in kitchen uncovered when not in continuous use. Trash cans containing food residue should be covered when not in continuous use. Current health permit is not posted. It is unlawful to operate a retail food establishment without a valid permit. Contact the billing office at 501-661-2171 to ensure that you are in compliance with the law.