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Mecklenburg County Health Dept
Public Health Inspections
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Premises Information

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NameEL TROPICO RESTAURANT
Address4335 N TRYON ST
 
City/State/ZIP
CHARLOTTE NC 28213
Premise Type1 - Restaurant
CountyMecklenburg
Inspection Date 9/11/2015
Final Score @ Grade
88.50 B
General Comments

Violations

 
CDI=Corrected During Inspection  R=Repeat Violation  VR=Verification Required 
Violation Item Demerits Violation Description CDIRVRComments
1 2 PIC present, Demonstration - Certification by accredited program, and performs duties No Yes No 2-102.11 PIC demonstrates knowledge by being a certified food protection manager. Present PIC not food safe certified.
4 1 Proper eating, tasting, drinking, or tobacco use Yes No No 2-401.11 Cover and store employee drinks to prevent contamination of food or utensils. Observed employee personal drink stored on prep table next to cutting board. CDI- Drink removed.
8 1 Handwashing sinks, supplied and accessible Yes No Yes 6-301.12 Provide paper towels or approved alternative for hand drying at each handsink. -Pf Observed no hand towels at only available hand sink. CDI- Towels placed at sink. 5-205.11 Maintain access to handsinks. Handsinks may only be used for handwashing.-Pf Observed employee rinsing raw fish above handsink. CDI- Employee corrected, rinsed fish in prep sink. 5-205.11 Using a Handwashing Sink-Operation and Maintenance - PF Maintain handwash sink. Observed handwas sink by dry good storage room broken, not usable, must have repaired, will follow up to check that sink is repaired.
14 1.50 Food-contact surfaces: cleaned and sanitized Yes No No 4-501.114 Maintain sanitizer at correct concentrations. -P Observed bucket of sanitizer reading 0 ppm, worker said it had not been changed since last night, change sanitizer buckets regularly to ensure proper strength. CDI- Sanitizer made to proper strength.
18 1.50 Proper cooling time and temperatures Yes No No 3-501.14(A) Quickly cool cooked foods within 2 hours from 135F to 70F; and within a total of 6 hours from 135F to 45F. -P Observed two large containers with tight lids with cooked and cooled salsas not properly cooled since last night, salsas observed at 50 degrees. CDI- Salsas disposed of, reviewed proper cooling with kitchen PIC.
21 1.50 Proper date marking and disposition Yes No No 3-501.18 Discard the food requiring date labels once time/temperature window has expired, if it is not been labeled, or if the label is incorrect. -P Observed large tub of wrapped chicken tamales date marked for 8 days ago. Date mark required foods are allowed at 7 day max shelf life. CDI- Tamales disposed of.
31 0.50 Proper cooling methods used; adequate equipment for temperature control Yes No No 3-501.15 Quickly cool foods. Use methods such as open/vented shallow pans, large ice baths and active stirring. Cold air must flow around product to remove the heat. -Pf Observed deep containers with tight lids used to cool salsas. CDI- Reviewed proper cooling methods with kitchen PIC.
36 1 Insects and rodents not present; no unauthorized animals No Yes No 6-501.111 Keep the premises free of insects, rodents, and other pests. Observed dead roach under shelving in dry good storage room. Have area treated as necessary.
45 1 Equipment, food and non-food-contact surfaces approved; cleanable, properly designed, constructed and used No Yes No 4-501.11 Maintain equipment in good repair. Observed rusty and peeling racks in walk ins. Walk in cooler fan unit condensation pipe is badly leaking above food racks, needs repair ASAP.
49 0 Plumbing installed; proper backflow devices No No No 5-205.15 Maintain a plumbing system in good repair. Can wash sink faucet handle is missing, needs replacing.
54 0.50 Meets ventilation and lighting requirements; designated areas used No No No 6-202.11 Shield the lights or provide shatter-resistant bulbs in areas of exposed food, equipment, utensils, linens or single-use articles. Ceiling light covers in dry good room are badly cracked, need replacing. General Comment: Call 704 336-5100 Ext 2 to request a re-inspection. Will follow up within 10 days to check cooling and handwash sink is repaired.