Bag gnawed on by a rodent was discovered during Berks food safety inspections.

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Aug 26, 2023

Bag gnawed on by a rodent was discovered during Berks food safety inspections.

Editor’s note: this file was updated May 12, 2023, at 11:40 a.m. to correct the

Editor's note: this file was updated May 12, 2023, at 11:40 a.m. to correct the violations of Bar B Q Pit of Sinking Spring in the updates.

Berks County is divided into three jurisdictions: Reading, Muhlenberg Township and the rest of the county. Reading and Muhlenberg Township have their own food safety inspectors and the rest of the county is inspected by Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture inspectors.

The results will be posted every other week. All food vendors are inspected at least once a year. Other inspections can be triggered by a change of owner, a follow up if a facility had been out of compliance or by a complaint filed with the PDA.

View any vendor's last inspection report online. Click on the PDF version of the inspection report for all details.

If a food provider is labeled out of compliance, that means it has one or more violations that require a return visit by an inspector. The establishment is given time to fix the problem(s) and remains open for business.

Below are the results of inspections conducted between April 26 and May 9, 2023, that were filed in the state database as of May 11 at 5:30 p.m.

Lilli's Ranch House, 2738 Penn Ave., Reading, May 9: six violations. Observed in-use knives stored between table edges or between tables, an area not easily cleanable & sanitized. *Removed, corrected on site* Unapproved food dispensing utensil in sugar, breadcrumbs, flour buckets observed stored in the product. Need scoops with handles. Temperature measuring device for ensuring proper temperature of equipment is not available or readily accessible in bain marie drawer unit equipment. Top of interior ice machine area, a food contact surface, was observed to have biofilm/slime build-up and was not clean to sight and touch. Non-food contact surfaces in the walk-in cooler and throughout the overall kitchen floor areas not cleaned at a frequency to preclude accumulation of dirt and soil.Observed clean dish racks stored on the floor in the dishwashing area. Food facility has an original certificate posted, but the location is not conspicuous for public viewing. *Moved, corrected on site*

Papa John's #2294, 2612 Penn Ave., West Lawn, May 9: no violations.

Arbys #7714, 809 S. Fourth St., Hamburg, May 8: three violations. Observed cooking equipment/pans, in the fryer area, with encrusted grease and soil accumulation. Also, customer soda fountain splash guards have slight build up. Observed food debris build-up on shelves and reach-in fry freezer equipment and under bun storage area. Mop sink has a hose attachment that is hanging below the flood rim of the sink and not an appropriate air gap.

Hawk Petro USA, 600 S. Fourth St., Hamburg, May 8: two violations. Multiple chocolate milks in the cooler are out of date- put the out-of-date items in the back to properly dispose. Overhead/fans area of the walk-in cooler inside the facility is extremely dirty, dusty, and in need of cleaning.

Hop Poh Chinese Restaurant, 312 State St., Hamburg, May 8: three violations. Carboard lining shelves of prep table shelves must be removed to be a cleanable surface. Paper towel dispenser empty at the handwash sink in the food prep area. *Corrected on site* No sign or poster posted at the handwash sink in the food prep area to remind food employees to wash their hands. *Corrected on site*

Salino's Stand, 10 S. Summit Ave., Reading, May 5: one violation.

Sheetz Store #655, 2246 Lancaster Pike, Reading, May 5: no violations.

Lancaster Custom Cuts, 10 Summit Ave., Shillington, May 4: three violations. Food employees observed in grinding room area, not wearing proper hair restraints. Corrected. Observed boxes of meat stored directly on the floor in walk in cooler area, rather than 6 inches off of the floor as required. Lights are not shielded or shatter proof over the meat case display area

Pilsudski LLC, 10 S. Summit Ave., Shillington, May 4: two violations. Flooring in the stand area, is made of linoleum, and is not durable, smooth, non-porous, non-absorbent. Walk-in cooler fan box area of the food facility is extremely dirty, dusty, and in need of cleaning.

Shillington Market Breakfast & Brunch, 10 S. Summit Ave., Reading, May 4: two violations. The quaternary ammonia concentration in the sanitizing solution of the 3-bay warewash sink was 0 ppm, rather than 200-400 ppm as stated on the manufacturers use directions. Corrected by using chlorine(bleach) sanitizer in place. Observed under grill area with an accumulation of food residue, debris on non-food contact surfaces.

Strickler's Delicatessen, 10 S. Summit Ave., Shillington, May 4: one violation. Wood table equipment, in slicer area, has non-food contact surfaces exposed to splash, spillage, or other food soiling, made of corrugated wood that has chipped areas, an absorbent and rough material.

True's Cuppa Love, 5 E. Penn Ave., Wernersville, May 4: one violation. Lights are not shielded or shatterproof over the kitchen area.

Blue Marsh Market, 118 W. Third St., Bernville, May 3: no violations.

Dieffenbach's Potato Chips, 51 Host Road, Womelsdorf, May 3: no violations.

Mama's Pizza, 690 Kenhorst Plaza, Reading, May 3: two violations. Splash guard behind soda fountain nozzles at front dining room have a build up of old splash residue and must be cleaned. Sprinkler head above food shelves in walk in cooler is missing the cap.

Mamas Pizza, 2661 Shillington Road, Sinking Spring, May 3: two violations. The floor/wall juncture at walk-in cooler area is not coved and closed to 1/32 inch. Metal coving is missing at the doorway of the walk-in cooler. Ceiling vents in grill area and hallways are dirty, dusty, and in need of cleaning.

3rd Street Cafe, 29 S. Third St., Hamburg, May 1: three violations. Temperature measuring device for ensuring proper temperature of equipment is not available or readily accessible in the 3 door cold hold unit. Observable grease like build up on the sides and wall behind the fryer and grill. Observed dust like build up on and around the heater vent above the warewasher.

Arby's #1130, 2249 Lancaster Pike, Shillington, May 1: two violations. Facility grease trap is under repair for overflow issues and has open exposed holes under warewashing sink. Holes covered temporarily until repairs are finished. The light intensity in the walk-in cooler / dry storage area is not at least 10 foot candles. Light is very dim in walk in cooler.

Cracker Barrel #312, 21 Industrial Drive, Hamburg, May 1: four violations. Observable old foods buildup on the handles and fronts of equipment along the main cook line. Grease like buildup on the sides and under the fryers and grill. Observed clean food equipment and/or utensils on the stainless steel rack across from the chemical room, stored wet in a manner that does not allow for draining and/or air drying (wet nesting). The drain cover is missing under the 3 bay sink. Observable old food spillage on the floor of the walk in freezer.

My Mangia Mobile Mff3, 808 Bramblewood Drive, Douglassville, May 1: no violations.

Subway #48592, 100 Love Road, Reading, May 1: two violations. The food facility does not maintain Food Employee Certification records as required. The food facility does not have the original certificate for the certified food employee posted in public view.

Subway/Auntie Anne's, 1800 Tilden Ridge Drive, Hamburg, May 1: three violations.Temperature measuring device for ensuring proper temperature of equipment is not available or readily accessible in 2 door cold hold unit against the wall. There is an observable mineral like buildup on the nozzle of the 3 bay sink. Mops are not being hung to air dry.

Walmart Supercenter #4612, 1800 Tilden Ridge Drive, Hamburg, May 1: two violations. Food facility has an employee who held a Certified Food Manager certificate; however, the certificate has expired and is no longer valid. The floor in the main grocery freezer has a buildup of paper, cardboard, pallet pieces.

Dollar General #24028, 210 N 3rd St., Womelsdorf, April 28: no violations.

Exeter Twp. Sd Jacksonwald Elem, 100 Church Lane Road, Reading, April 28: no violations.

Gulf Station Oley, 1141 Memorial Highway, Oley, April 28: one violation. Ice bagged in facility does not have the facility information on bag. Labels are still not available.

Hocaa Bubble Tea, 1665 State Hill Road Unit KS6, Wyomissing, April 28: no violations.

Hydration Station At Colonial Fitness, 172 Shillington Rd Road, Sinking Spring, April 28: no violations.

Julie's Restaurant, 4850 Penn Ave., Sinking Spring, April 28: no violations.

Kona Ice of West Reading Mff2-Zlr4224, 1751 S. Mountain Drive, Reading, April 28: no violations.

Kona Ice of West Reading .Mff2-, 1751 S. Mountain Drive, Reading, April 28: no violations.

Kona Ice of West Reading-Mff2-Xln9115, 1751 S. Mountain Drive, Reading, April 28: no violations.

Local Leaf Market, 3071 W. Philadelphia Ave., Oley, April 28: no violations.

Snack Shack, 1665 State Hill Road Suite 920, Wyomissing, April 28: one violation. Food facility does not yet employ a certified food employee as required. Owners will be taking a certification course.

Speedway #06731, 2336 W. Lancaster Pike, Reading, April 28: one violation. Observable dirt/soil build up on floor in walk-in cooler in corner sections near door. Also heavy slime residue build up from hoses under slushie fountain cabinet at drain.

Bridge Inn The, 3 Covered Bridge Road, Oley, April 27: no violations.

Dollar General #15282, 8265 Lancaster Ave., Bethel, April 27: no violations.

Fleetwood Area School District High School, 801 N. Richmond St., Fleetwood, April 27: one violation. The automatic sensor for one of the handwash sinks in the kitchen area is not working. Maintenance stated that this happens periodically and is an issue with the electrical system. A work order for repair was initiated during this inspection.

Fleetwood Area School District Middle School, 407 N. Richmond St., Fleetwood, April 27: no violations.

Fleetwood Area School District Willow Creek Elem, 605 Crisscross Road, Fleetwood, April 27: no violations.

Horning's Market of Bethel, 8316 Lancaster Ave., Bethel, April 27: four violations. Observed boxes of food stored directly on the floor in walk in cooler and floor aisle display area, rather than 6 inches off of the floor as required. Mop sink has a hose attachment that is hanging below the flood rim of the sink and not an appropriate air gap. Corrected. Floor in the produce storage room area is made of cement and has a large chipped gap near door and is not a smooth, easily cleanable surface and must be repaired. Caulking along wall and counter junction of the deli counter has gaps and missing caulking that must be repaired.

Kauffman's Bar-B-Que, 33 Gravel Pit Road, Bethel, April 27: three violations. Observed boxes of chicken food stored directly on the floor in chicken cooler area, rather than 6 inches off of the floor as required. Customer self-service single-use tableware is not displayed in a manner so that only the handles are touched by customers. Corrected. Top caps missing on the customer cup dispensers. Corrected. Observed cardboard being utilized as a floor covering in chicken oven area.

Kutztown Park Snack Bar, 440 E. Main St., Kutztown, April 27: one violation. Observed an accumulation of grease/dirt on some of the hood filters.

The Nesting Box Mobile Unit Mmf3 (Xpd-9193), 230 Snyder Road, Kempton, April 27: no violations.

Vesuvio, 8495 Lancaster Ave., Bethel, April 27: no violations.

Bixler's Lodge, 1456 Friedensberg Road, Stoney Creek, April 26: no violations.

Rutter's #92, 15475 Kutztown Road, Kutztown, April 26: one violation. Food facility does not have available sanitizer test strips for the chlorinated sanitizer in the dishwashing area to determine appropriate sanitizer concentration.

Saucony Cafe, 100 Constitution Blvd., Kutztown, April 26: one violation. Temperature measuring devices for ensuring proper temperatures of equipment are not available or readily accessible in refrigerated equipment: bain marie and side Coke cooler.

Haiku Hibachi & Sushi, 3215 N. Fifth Street Highway, May 5: eight violation. The Person in Charge did not practice knowledge of the PA Food Code as evidenced by inspection results. Raw chicken was stored above raw beef, in the walk-in refrigerator. Corrected on inspection. Raw fish was stored above ready-to-eat seaweed in the sushi refrigerator. Corrected on inspection. Sushi foods are served raw or undercooked to the customer's request; however, a written consumer advisory (on the menu, table tent, or placard) is not provided to the consumer. Observed floor, in grill area, with an accumulation of dust, dirt, food residue, debris on non-food contact surfaces. Food Employee Certification is displayed, but expired in March 2023. Old food residue, dishes and utensils observed in the handwash sink, indicating uses other than handwashing. No sign or poster posted at the handwash sink in the sushi area to remind food employees to wash their hands. Food facility unable to provide documentation for procedures, monitoring of critical control points, and corrective actions in the HACCP plan submitted to and approved by the Department. Out of compliance.

Reading Muhlenberg Career & Technical Center, 2615 Warren Road, May 5: no violations.

Fraternal Order of Police Lodge # 71, 776 Mount Laurel Ave., April 30: three violations. Floor / wall juncture in dish machine area should be closed to 1/32 inch. Coving is breaking away from wall. Ceiling tile missing in the kitchen area, and needs replacement. Mop is not being hung to air dry. Bew certain to install hooks in an area that prevents contamination of food/equipment.

Goodwill Beneficial Association, 100 Madison Ave., April 30: two violations. Food employee observed in kitchen area, not wearing proper hair restraint, such as net or hat. Standing fan in kitchen – fan guard observed to have an accumulation of dust.

Sam's Club # 8160, 5314 Allentown Pike, April 30: no violations.

Mama's Pizza, 4425 Pottsville Pike, April 29: two violations. Personal items – purses/phones observed stored among food supplies. Corrected immediately on inspection. Observed clean food equipment stored while wet. Allow time for draining and/or air-drying before storage/stacking. Pans immediately removed for rewashing on inspection.

San Francisco Mini Market & Tacos, 4848 Kutztown Road, April 29: two violations. Prepackaged jello food is not labeled to clearly indicate any "Big 9" allergen ingredients and / or the allergen warning statement. Prepackaged jello is not labeled properly with the name of product, ingredient statement, net weight, distributed by statement and/or nutritional facts.

Wegman's Restaurant, 4401 Pottsville Pike, April 29: five violations. An open employee's beverage container was observed in service/plate storage area. Beverages must be covered with a lid and have a straw. Food dispensing utensil in bulk rice observed stored in the food and not with handle above the top of the food and the container. Potentially hazardous ready-to-eat food prepared in the food facility and commercially processed ready to eat food, located in the walk-in refrigerator and reach-in refrigerator, and held more than 48 hours, are not being marked with the date they were opened. Service boards at steam tables, a food contact surface, were observed to have food residue between boards and were not clean to sight and touch. Floor tiles chipped/damaged and multiple non-smooth surfaces which prohibit adequate cleaning. Out of compliance.

None filed.

The following reports for the period of April 12 to April 25, 2023, were added to the state's database after April 27 and did not appear in the previous Berks food safety report.

Domino's Pizza, 2844 Penn Ave., West Lawn, April 25: two violations. Mop sink has a hose attachment that is hanging below the flood rim of the sink and not an appropriate air gap. Also warewashing sink spray nozzle is hanging into sink when not on hook. Wall behind 3-bay sink has build-up of mold residue at caulking and wall is peeling and needs to be repaired.

IHOP #5502, 2701 Meridian Blvd., Wyomissing, April 25: five violations. Observed visible evidence of rodent-contaminated foods (gnawing on a bag of dry pancake mix) in the dry storage area. *Bag removed, corrected on-site* Observed wet wiping cloths in food prep area (cooking line), not being stored in sanitizer solution. *Corrected on-site* Detergent bulk container supplying detergent to the wash compartment of the mechanical warewashing equipment was empty. *Corrected on-site* Floor surface material is starting to deteriorate in some areas of the kitchen, such as the dishwasher area and cookline area. Food facility inspection indicates evidence of rodent activity. Facility is continuing with their pest control program.

Taco's Rene Mffzgw-5945, 1161 Park Road, Blandon, April 25: two violations. Observed in-use knives and /or cleavers stored between table edges or between tables, an area not easily cleanable & sanitized. Corrected. Water, as observed at hand sink is not under pressure during inspection.

Bar B Q Pit, 4741 Penn Ave., Sinking Spring, April 24: five violations. Observed boxes of cabbage heads stored directly on the floor in basement walk in cooler area, rather than 6 inches off of the floor as required. Soda lines and/or non-integral cold plate device installed in ice bin and in contact with ice used for consumer beverages. Corrected by placing drink ice in separate pan. Top of interior ice bin in the ice machine in kitchen was observed to have mold residue and was not clean to sight and touch (to be corrected) Also Soda gun holder in outside bar area has water back up and slime residue. Corrected. Observed clean food equipment and/or utensils in kitchen rack area, stored wet in a manner that does not allow for draining and/or air drying (wet nesting). Corrected. Both mop sinks have a hose attachment that is hanging below the flood rim of the sink and not an appropriate air gap.

Berks CTC-East Campus, 3307 Friedensburg Road, Oley, April 24: no violations.

Blue Marsh Restaurant & Pizzeria, 5027 Bernville Road, Bernville, April 24: no violations.

Oley Valley School District (Elementary), 3257 Friedensburg Road, Oley, April 24: no violations.

Oley Valley School District (Middle), 3247 Friedensburg Road, Oley, April 24: no violations.

Wilson School District Whitfield Elementary, 2700 Van Reed Road, West Lawn, April 24: no violations.

Abraxas Academy, 1000 Academy Drive, Morgantown, April 17: no violations.

Northwest Middle School, 1000 N. Front St., April 25: no violations.

13th & Green Elem. School, 501 N. 13th St., April 18: no violations.

Central Middle School, 215 N. 12th St., April 18: no violations.

City Line Learning Academy, 2026 Hampden Blvd., April 12: no violations.

Northeast Middle School, 1201 N. 12th St., April 12: no violations.

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