Mecklenburg County Health Dept
Public Health Inspections
 
  
 
Premises Information
Return to Inspections
NameVELVET TACO SOUTH END
Address2170 HAWKINS ST
 
City/State/ZIP
CHARLOTTE NC 28203
Premise Type1 - Restaurant
CountyMecklenburg
Inspection Date 2/2/2024
Final Score @ Grade
81.50 B
General Comments
Violations 
CDI=Corrected During Inspection  R=Repeat Violation  VR=Verification Required 
Violation Item Demerits Violation Description CDIRVRComments
3 1 Management, food & conditional employee; knowledge, responsibilities & reporting Yes No No 2-102.11 (C ) (2), (3), (17) 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 employee health process and procedures. -Pf No employee health policy was available during inspection. CDI - REHS provided.
5 0.50 Procedures for responding to vomiting & diarrheal events Yes No No 2-501.11 A food establishment shall have written procedures for employees to follow when responding to vomiting or diarrheal events. -Pf No written procedures during inspection. CDI - REHS provided.
8 2 Hands clean & properly washed Yes Yes No 2-301.14 (H) Wash hands before donning gloves to initiate a task that involves working with food.- P Observed an employee remove gloves after working with raw fish. Employee then donned new gloves to work with raw chicken without washing hands. CDI - Education provided and employee washed their hands. Repeat. No escalation in points due to improvement.
10 1 Handwashing sinks supplied & accessible Yes No No 6-301.12 Provide paper towels or approved alternative for hand drying at each handsink. -Pf Observed no paper towels present at the grill hand sink. CDI - Manager provided paper towels.
15 1.50 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 chicken and beef stored above corn and lettuce in the walk-in cooler. Observed raw eggs stored above cheese in the walk-in cooler. CDI - Items were moved to the correct order. Repeat 3-302.11 (A)(2) Separate types of raw animal foods from each other such as beef, fish, lamb, pork, and poultry during storage, preparation, holding, and display. -P. Observed raw ground beef and mechanically tenderized beef stored above steak. CDI - ITems were moved to the correct order. REHS provided correct storage charts.
19 1.50 Proper reheating procedures for hot holding Yes No No 3-403.11 (A),(D) Reheat all TCS foods to 165F within 2 hours if food is to be hot held until service. -P Observed rice reheated to 150 degrees for hot holding. CDI - Item was reheated to 165.
20 1.50 Proper cooling time & temperatures Yes No No 3-501.14(B) Quickly cool TCS foods that are prepared from room temperature ingredients. Food must be to 41F within 4 hours. -P. Observed corn salsa and guacamole cooling 0 degrees in 25 minutes. Items were stacked in multiple pans and placed on a thin layer of ice. CDI - Pans were placed directly on ice and surrounded to the rim.
21 3 Proper hot holding temperatures Yes No No 3-501.16(A)(1) Maintain TCS foods in hot holding at 135F or above. -P Observed beef hot holding at 114 degrees. Observed rice hot holding at 120 degrees. CDI - Items were voluntarily discarded. Repeat
22 3 Proper cold holding temperatures Yes Yes No 3-501.16(A)(2) Maintain TCS foods in cold holding at 41F or less. -P Observed salsa, guacamole, chopped avocado, mayo crema and ranch crema above 41 degrees while sitting on a thin layer of ice. CDI - Items were voluntarily discarded. REHS provided education on ice bath methods. Repeat
28 1 Toxic substances properly identified stored & used Yes No No 7-102.11 Label working containers of toxic materials such as cleaners and sanitizers.-Pf Observed three spray bottles and one sanitizer bucket missing labels. CDI - Manager labeled during inspection. 7-201.11 Store toxic materials to avoid contamination of food, equipment, utensils, linens, and single-service/use items. -P Observed a sanitizer bucket being stored above plastic forks. CDI - Item was removed.
33 0.50 Proper cooling methods used; adequate equipment for temperature control Yes Yes 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 corn salsa and guacamole being cooled in double-stacked pans on a thin layer of ice. CDI - REHS provided education on ice bathing. Repeat
35 0 Approved thawing methods used Yes No No 3-501.13 (E) Reduced oxygen packaged fish, required to be kept frozen until time of use per labeling, shall be removed from the reduced oxygen environment prior to thawing under refrigeration or upon completion of thawing using running water. Observed vacuum sealed salmon in the walk-in cooler with intact packages. CDI - Education provided and packages were cut open.
37 0 Food properly labeled: original container No No No 3-302.12 Label all working containers of food (oils, spices, salts, flour, sugar) except food that is easy to identify such as dry pasta. Observed flour and panko containers with no labels.
39 1 Contamination prevented during food preparation, storage & display Yes No No 6-404.11 Designate a separate area for items that are not for use and are being held for credit, such as dented cans or recalled products. -Pf Observed three badly dented cans on the storage rack. CDI - Items were removed to be returned to the supplier.
40 1 Personal cleanliness No Yes No 2-303.11 Remove jewelry on hands and arms while preparing food. A plain ring, such as a wedding band, is allowed. Observed four employees with watches or bracelets on. 2-402.11 Use head coverings, beard guards and clothing to restrain body hair from contacting exposed food, equipment, and utensils. Observed one employee preparing food with no hair restraint. Repeat
41 0 Wiping cloths: properly used & stored No No No 3-304.14(B) Hold in-use wiping cloths in properly concentrated sanitizer between uses. Observed several wet wiping cloths stored on prep surfaces throughout the kitchen.
45 0 Single-use & single-service articles: properly stored & used No No No 4-904.11 (A) Display and handle single-use and single-service articles and cleaned and sanitized utensils to prevent contamination. Observed a basket of forks being stored with handles in different directions for customers.
54 0 Garbage & refuse properly disposed; facilities maintained No No No 5-501.113(B) Keep dumpster, outside waste containers covered with tight-fitting lids or doors. Observed open dumpster doors.