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Sampson County Health Dept
Public Health Inspections
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Premises Information

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NameEL MERCADO AZTECA GRILL
Address500 WARSAW ROAD
 
City/State/ZIP
CLINTON NC 28328
Premise Type2 - Food Stands
CountySampson
Inspection Date 3/26/2026
Final Score @ Grade
92 A
General Comments

Violations

 
CDI=Corrected During Inspection  R=Repeat Violation  VR=Verification Required 
Violation Item Demerits Violation Description CDIRVRComments
6 0 Proper eating, tasting, drinking or tobacco use No No No Employee drink stored on prep table in back room. Observed employee drinking from an open cup with finger touching lip of cup. This contaminates hands which must be washed after drinking. Use a cup with a straw and store on shelves below food prep and clean utensils. 2-401.11 Eating, Drinking, or Using Tobacco (C)
15 1.50 Food separated & protected No Yes Yes Raw meat stored above ready to eat foods in walk-in freezer. Reorganize stacking orders by follow-up visit on Monday. 3-302.11 Packaged and Unpackaged Food - Separation, Packaging, and Segregation (P)
20 1.50 Proper cooling time & temperatures Yes Yes No Milk based beverage still 78F from last night. Foods being cooled down must be cooled from 135F to 70F within 2 hrs, then down to 41F within additional 4 hrs. Beverage was discarded. 3-501.14 Cooling (P)
21 1.50 Proper hot holding temperatures Yes Yes No Cooked poblano chilis were 98F and cooked vegetables were 120F on steam table. Hot foods must be maintained 135F or above. Poblanos were discarded today and added to TPHC paperwork for future batches. Cooked vegetables were reheated to above 135F due to short time out of temp. 3-501.16 (A) (1) Time / Temperature Control for Safety Food, Hot and Cold Holding (P)
24 1.50 Time as a Public Health Control; procedures & records Yes No No Times for foods on serving line were not correct. Accurately label times for all foods under TPHC procedures. Times were adjusted today, however future violations of this will cause foods to be discarded. 3-501.19 Time as a Public Health Control (Pf)
33 0.50 Proper cooling methods used; adequate equipment for temperature control Yes No No Milk based beverage was left out at room temp over night to cool. Foods being cooled just be placed inside refrigerators in small portions with loose lids once they fall below 135F. Beverage was discarded. 3-501.15 Cooling Methods (Pf)
37 0 Food properly labeled: original container No No No Sugar and breader were not labeled in back room. All dry goods must be labeled with removed from original containers. 3-302.12 Food Storage Containers Identified with Common Name of Food (C)
39 1 Contamination prevented during food preparation, storage & display No No No Several bags and containers of foods stored on kitchen floor in bakery area. All foods must be stored at least 6 inches above the floor. 3-305.11 Food Storage - Preventing Contamination from the Premises (C)
48 0.50 Warewashing facilities: installed, maintained & used; test strips No No Yes No sanitizer test kit available to check sanitizer concentrations. Provide test kit within 10 days. 4-302.14 Sanitizing Solutions, Testing Devices (Pf)
54 0 Garbage & refuse properly disposed; facilities maintained No No No Outside dumpster lids open. Keep lids closed to prevent attracting pest. 5-501.15 Outside Receptacles (C)