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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 3/18/2021
Final Score @ Grade
94 A
General Comments

Violations

 
CDI=Corrected During Inspection  R=Repeat Violation  VR=Verification Required 
Violation Item Demerits Violation Description CDIRVRComments
8 1 Handwashing sinks, supplied and accessible Yes Yes No Repeat: 6-301.11 Provide soap for handwashing at each handsink. -Pf. Observed no soap in one of the employee restrooms inside kitchen. CDI: soap provided. 6-301.12 Provide paper towels or approved alternative for hand drying at each handsink. -Pf. Observed no paper towels for handsink inside men’s restroom. 6-301.14 Post a handwash sign at each handsink. Observed no sign in employee restroom inside the kitchen.
12 1 Required records available: shellstock tags, parasite destruction Yes Yes No Repeat: 3-203.12 Retain tag on the bag of shellstock until empty. Record date on the tag when the last shellstock from the container is used. Store tags in chronological order for 90 days. -Pf. Observed shellstock tags not in chronological order. CDI: discussed with PIC about organizational strategy to ensure tags are kept in chronological order.
21 3 Proper date marking and disposition Yes Yes No Repeat: 3-501.17 Date mark/label all TCS foods that are ready-to-eat once opened or prepared and held more than 24hrs. -Pf. Observed 2 squeeze bottles of sauce not date marked inside prep cooler. Observed a half stack of loroco pupusas not date marked in prep cooler. CDI: discarded. Observed pupusa fillings in pan inside walk-in without a date mark. CDI: product daters properly. 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 a stack of loroco pupusas inside prep cooler dated 3/9/21 that had expired 7 days. CDI: discarded. Overall observed much improvement regarding date marking throughout facility. Facility will need to implement a risk control plan for date marking to ensure products are properly dated and discarded to comply with long term compliance. Will work with facility to help implement.
37 1 Contamination prevented during food preparation, storage and display No Yes No Repeat: 3-305.11 Food Storage-Preventing Contamination from the Premises - C. Observed some food items inside walk-in freezer without a cover.
45 0 Equipment, food and non-food-contact surfaces approved; cleanable, properly designed, constructed and used No No No 4-101.11 Food contact surfaces shall be made of safe materials. No odor, color or taste can migrate during multi-use. Materials shall be smooth, cleanable, durable and nonabsorbent. Observed wooden whisk hanging up in kitchen used to mix chocolate. Advised PIC to discard and provide commercial product that can be easily cleaned and non absorbent. 4-501.11 Maintain equipment in good repair. Observed multiple items of equipment at back of facility that is not in use. Observed ice machine not working. Observed gas stoves inside kitchen that is not in use. PIC stated that all the equipment not is use is getting removed from facility.