Mecklenburg County Health Dept
Public Health Inspections
 
  
 
Premises Information
Return to Inspections
NameSANTA CRUZ MEXICAN GRILL
Address520 UNIVERSITY CENTER BV
 
City/State/ZIP
CHARLOTTE NC 28262
Premise Type1 - Restaurant
CountyMecklenburg
Inspection Date 4/22/2024
Final Score @ Grade
84 B
General CommentsFor re-inspection call 980-314-1620
Violations 
CDI=Corrected During Inspection  R=Repeat Violation  VR=Verification Required 
Violation Item Demerits Violation Description CDIRVRComments
1 1 PIC Present, demonstrates knowledge, & performs duties No No No 2-102.11 (A) - (C )(1), (4)-(16) The Person in charge shall demonstrate knowledge of foodborne disease prevention, application of HACCP principles, and the requirements of this code by (A) Complying with the Food Code by having no violations of Priority Items during the current inspection, (B) Being a certified food protection manager, or (C) by responding correctly to the inspector's questions related to the operation of the food establishment. -Pf. Observed PIC unable to answer inspector’s questions related to the operation of the facility. Also observed facility observed multiple priority item violation today VR needed 5-2-24 Please visit our resource page, https://health.mecknc.gov/envhealth/food-and-facilities-sanitation, for more food safety information related to PIC Duties, Training, and managing food safety.
8 2 Hands clean & properly washed Yes No No 2-301.14 (I) Wash hands after engaging in other activities that contaminate hands. -P Observed cook switch task, leave station and return, and change gloves with out washing his hands. EHS did not observe cook wash his hands at all during the entire inspection. CDI EHS educated PIC on when to wash hands. Cook washed his hands.
10 1 Handwashing sinks supplied & accessible Yes No No 5-205.11 (B) A handwashing sink may not be used for purposes other than handwashing Pf. Observed utensil in back handwashing sink. CDI PIOC removed utensil from sink. 5-202.12 Provide at least 100F water at handsinks. Observed hand sink on cook line below at 85F. Also observed no cold water at back handwashing sink. PIC stated that they are not using the back handwashing sink. 6-301.12 Provide paper towels or approved alternative for hand drying at each handsink. -Pf Observed no paper towels at handwashing sink on cook line. CDI PIC provided appear towels.
14 1 Required records available: shellstock tags, parasite destruction No No No 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 oyster tags not dated when taken from empty bags and not in chronological order. EHS educated PIC. VR needed 5-2-24
15 3 Food separated & protected Yes Yes No 3-302.11(A)(1) Separate raw animal foods from ready-to-eat foods and washed/unwashed fruits and vegetables. -P Observed raw fish in container with crab legs. CDI Voluntarily discarded crab legs REPEAT For more information on food storage order please visit: https://health.mecknc.gov/envhealth/food-and-facilities-sanitation
16 3 Food-contact surfaces: cleaned & sanitized No No No 4-602.11 (E )Clean the equipment and utensils used with nonTCS foods as required to avoid contamination. Observed inside of the ice machine has buildup. 4-501.114 Maintain sanitizer at correct concentrations when being used to sanitize. -P Observed employee washing dishes at 3 comp sink without sanitizer. Observed employee actively washing dishes with 3 comp sink not set up wash/rinse/sanitize. CDI EHS educated PIC and he corrected employee CDI PIC put chlorine in the sanitizer compartment. For more information please visit: https://health.mecknc.gov/envhealth/food-and-facilities-sanitation or view our training videos at the following weblinks: Sanitizing Solutions - https://youtu.be/ykP2mr9CtRg and How to Test Sanitizer https://youtu.be/y0SjmnabFaY 4-601.11(A) Equipment food contact surfaces and utensils shall be clean to sight and touch. -Pf. Observed the dicer and 1 container stored as clean with food debris CDI PIC moved items to dish room. For more information, please visit: https://health.mecknc.gov/envhealth/food-and-facilities-sanitation or view our training videos at the following weblinks: Sanitizing Solutions - https://youtu.be/ykP2mr9CtRg , How to Test Sanitizer https://youtu.be/y0SjmnabFaY , and Cleaning and Sanitizing Food Contact Surfaces https://youtu.be/av1Rbh-lh08 . For more information, please visit: https://health.mecknc.gov/envhealth/food-and-facilities-sanitation or view our training videos at the following weblinks: Sanitizing Solutions - https://youtu.be/ykP2mr9CtRg , How to Test Sanitizer https://youtu.be/y0SjmnabFaY , and Cleaning and Sanitizing Food Contact Surfaces https://youtu.be/av1Rbh-lh08 .
22 1.50 Proper cold holding temperatures Yes No No 3-501.16(A)(2) Maintain TCS foods in cold holding at 41F or less. -P Observed several cooked TCS foods in the WIC above 41F. See temperature chart. CDI pic voluntarily discarded. For more information, please visit: https://health.mecknc.gov/envhealth/food-and-facilities-sanitation or view our training videos at the following weblinks: What are TCS Foods https://youtu.be/bRvqAETDjQU and Safe Food Temperatures https://youtu.be/tXP09IK-1TQ .
23 1.50 Proper date marking & disposition Yes No No 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 several cooked TCS foods in the lowboy coolers not date marked. These items only had a “use first” sticker on them. CDI PIC stated they were cooked yesterday and he put date on items. For more information, please visit: https://health.mecknc.gov/envhealth/food-and-facilities-sanitation or view our training videos at the following weblinks: What are TCS Foods https://youtu.be/bRvqAETDjQU and Date Marking Food Safely https://youtu.be/BOPsSNUajYs . 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 house made spicy tomato sauce with an expired date mark (4-17-24). Also observed 2 packs of hot dogs date marked 4-6-24.CDI pic voluntarily discarded sauce and hot dogs. For more information, please visit: https://health.mecknc.gov/envhealth/food-and-facilities-sanitation or view our training videos at the following weblinks: What are TCS Foods https://youtu.be/bRvqAETDjQU and Date Marking Food Safely https://youtu.be/BOPsSNUajYs .
28 0 Toxic substances properly identified stored & used Yes No No 7-201.11 Store toxic materials to avoid contamination of food, equipment, utensils, linens, and single-service/use items. -P Observed sanitizer bucket on prep table. CDI PIC moved sanitizer bucket.
33 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 multiple TCS foods that were cooked yesterday still above 41F today. These foods were in deep pans and covered. CDI EHS educated PIC on quick cooling methods and the PIC voluntarily discarded these items. For more information, please visit: https://health.mecknc.gov/envhealth/food-and-facilities-sanitation or view our training videos at the following weblinks: What are TCS Foods https://youtu.be/bRvqAETDjQU and Cooling Food Safely https://youtu.be/P6x8b1ZVOxU .
36 0.50 Thermometers provided & accurate No No No 4-302.12 Provide an accessible thermometer for use. Provide a thin probe thermometer for accurate measure of thin foods.-Pf . Observed facility does not have a thin probe thermometer to measure foods. VR needed 5-2-24
39 1 Contamination prevented during food preparation, storage & display Yes No No 3-303.12(B)(C)(D) Unpackaged food may not be stored in direct contact with undrained ice except: whole raw fruits or vegetables; cut raw vegetables such as celery, carrots, or potatoes; tofu; and raw poultry and raw fish received immersed in ice. Observed lettuce stored in direct contact with water in the prep top and in the WIC. EHS advised PIC that when storing lettuce in ice the water has to drain away from the food. 3-305.11 Store food in a clean, dry location, not exposed to contamination. Keep at least 6 inches above the floor. Observed 2 boxes of food on the floor in the WIF. Also observed 4 containers of food in dry storage not covered. CDI PIC put boxes on a shelf. PIC also covered all containers in dry storage REPEAT
43 0 In-use utensils: properly stored Yes No No 3-304.12 (B) In-use utensils for food that is not TCS must be stored with their handles above the top of the food within containers or equipment that can be closed. Observed a plastic container without a handle being used to scoop rice in large bin. CDI PIC removed container from rice
44 0 Utensils, equipment & linens: properly stored, dried & handled No No No 4-901.11(A) Air dry equipment and utensils after cleaning and sanitizing. Observed clean dishes being stacked wet.