Two Fresno restaurants were temporarily closed in March and a third business remains closed after Fresno County health inspectors found serious food safety violations during their visits.
Rack Billiards on North Blackstone Avenue north of Gettysburg Avenue was closed by a district inspector March 1 because the floor in the store was removed and the premises were exposed to bare dirt and underground plumbing. Inspectors allowed the store to reopen on March 9
In southeast Fresno, an inspector found evidence of a vermin infestation at the Apni Mandi Indian Market and Restaurant at a mall on Belmont Avenue and Peach Avenue during a visit March 7. Under the Health and Safety Act of the State of California, evidence of an infestation may include actual sighting of insects or rodents, fresh feces, urine stains, or gnawing marks, which may indicate possible contamination of food, equipment, packaging, or utensils. The operators were allowed to reopen on March 13th.
However, another grocery store on Belmont Avenue remained closed this week after its March 17 inspection. Christy’s Donuts at Belmont Avenue and Fresno Street was ruled unsafe by fire officials after a county inspector found the kitchen vent hood wasn’t working. Grease was found to be accumulating in the building’s attic near the water heater and leaking into the light fixtures.
The March closures came after Health Department officials reported no restaurant closures in February due to inspection violations.
What are the inspectors looking for?
The Fresno County Department of Public Health has about two dozen environmental health specialists who monitor more than 5,300 restaurants, snack bars, grocery stores, commissaries, delis, and grocers across the county, making unannounced visits several times a year.
Restaurants are also inspected in response to complaints or other concerns from the public, including when people see restaurants that they believe are health or hygiene issues.
Inspectors go through a checklist of more than 50 items when they visit a restaurant or foodservice.
The first page of the form, used by Fresno County Health Inspectors, contains a checklist of more than 50 factors that are checked for compliance with food handling and food safety regulations.
Some of the county’s inspectors are also responsible for inspecting other facilities such as tattoo or body art studios, public swimming pools, and other facilities.
A lack of hot water is one of the most common violations inspectors from the Fresno County Department of Public Health find during their routine restaurant visits.
If an inspector finds a problem, it can usually be quickly fixed without a closure order — things like putting enough bleach in the water used to wipe down food prep counters, replacing lids on food containers in the aisle — in the refrigerator, refilling paper towels in the Restrooms or reminding employees to wear gloves or hairnets and wash their hands.
But other things that pose an immediate threat to health and safety will also trigger a closure until the problem can be resolved. These may include a lack of hot water to wash dishes or hands; infestation with rodents, cockroaches or other insects; refrigerators that don’t keep cold food cold enough and steam tables that don’t keep food hot enough to inhibit bacterial growth; or plumbing problems, including blocked drains and toilets.
Fresno County makes its restaurant inspection reports publicly available at fresnohealthinspections.org, but some of the more recent inspection reports have yet to appear on the site.
A single roach like the American roach pictured in this file photo won’t necessarily cause Fresno County health inspectors to close a restaurant, but evidence of a significant infestation by this and other creatures will result in a closure until the problem is addressed.
Originally published Apr 15, 2023 1:34 p.m
