WPBN: During recent local food safety and lodging inspections, Kansas Department of Agriculture inspectors found a number of infractions, including fresh and old mouse excrement, a continuing cockroach infestation, mold that won’t go away at a school, and multiple cases of improperly handled food.
The Eagle updates its searchable database of Sedgwick County failed inspections every week. Eight restaurants, shops, hotels, schools, and other establishments that provide or sell food or rent rooms to the general public in the Wichita area were listed as non-compliant from December 1–7.
Over 60 others were judged to be in compliance with food safety and lodging regulations, with inspectors finding little or no infractions.
The purpose of inspections is to safeguard the people against foodborne infections and other threats to their health. Infractions are frequent.
If a business has too many faults, infractions, or problems that are not immediately resolved, it may fail. They usually fix problems in front of an inspection. Serving food that is older than a week, staff handling food improperly, and unclean kitchen facilities are a few examples of issues that can be resolved right away.
However, some problems, such as bug infestations, power outages, and plumbing troubles, require days or weeks to resolve. A company may temporarily close due to infractions, albeit this is uncommon.
Failures are often reinspected after ten days.
This story’s list was created on December 11th using data that was available from the state at the time. Although it only includes Sedgwick County entities, you can look for food and lodging inspection data in other Kansas counties at
foodsafety.kda.ks.gov/FoodSafety/Web/Inspection/PublicInspectionSearch.aspx
Inspections for violations
During a regular inspection on December 2, BurgDogs found seven infractions at Towne East Square, 7700 E. Kellogg Drive, Suite VC05 in Wichita. The absence of sanitizer, the hand-washing sink used to store clean food utensils, the unlabeled blue liquid spray bottle, the lack of a written plan for cleaning up vomiting or diarrhea incidents, the absence of a food probe thermometer, the employee touching their face with gloved hands before handling food, and the absence of paper towels at the hand-washing sink are instances of violations.
Chicken Chicken, located in Wichita at 2419 E. 13th St. On December 4, a follow-up examination revealed three infractions. Approximately two dozen fresh mouse droppings in the kitchen and bathroom, evidence of mice chewing on sealing foam and wall material, a manual three-compartment sink without sanitizer, four to six dozen fresh mouse droppings, and more old mouse droppings accumulated in various parts of the restaurant are among the violations. Inspection date: February 4.
Five infractions were found during a routine inspection on December 5 at the Comfort Inn East Wichita, located at 9525 E. Corporate Hills Drive in Wichita.
Infractions include incorrectly dated gravy, frozen egg mix thawing in the sink rather than the refrigerator, a lack of test strips for sanitizing solutions, thermometers, and inadequately heated gravy at the breakfast buffet bar. December 15 is the next inspection date.
Five infractions were found during a routine inspection on December 3 at Garden Plain Elementary School, located at 700 N. Section Line Road in Garden Plain.
Violations include the walk-in cooler’s condenser leaking, a number of dead small insects in the dry storage area, dried rodent feces near the washing machine, gray and white mold growing on the shelving beneath the condenser that returns once a week, a crack in the exterior door that lets light and possibly pests in, and fresh rodent droppings in the dry storage area.
During a follow-up inspection on December 4, there were three infractions at Guelaguetza Market, 2835 S. Hydraulic in Wichita. Dead cockroaches in the restroom and meat area, live juvenile cockroaches crawling on the floor of the storage area, and a number of cardboard boxes and other random objects stacked in the rear storage area are among the violations. Next Inspection date: February 4.
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Kababs, Wichita, 3101 Rock Road, Suite 110 — During a follow-up inspection on December 3, five breaches were found. Infractions include: raw beef stored above cooked chicken curry, potato salad, and other items on the buffet cold holding line not being kept cold enough; cooked chicken in the hot holding unit not being kept hot enough; and an employee handling raw meat and then touching clean items without changing gloves.
Additionally, there is no hot water under pressure at hand-washing sinks. Inspection date: February 3.
During a regular inspection on December 2, Stucky Middle School, located at 4545 N. Broadview Circle in Wichita, had two infractions. Some handwashing stations lack hot water, and the dock area has dried mouse droppings.
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Tom’s Lotus Garden, located in Wichita at 822 S. Broadway — During an inspection conducted on December 3rd in response to an administrative order, there was one infraction. One egg sack on top of the ice maker and live roach activity on glue traps around the restaurant are examples of violations; cockroaches are “living in the suspended areas of the building.” Inspection date: February 3.
You can file a complaint at www.agriculture.ks.gov/public-resources/comments-complaints/lodging-complaint on the conditions at hotels and motels.
Go to www.foodsafety.gov to learn more about foodborne illnesses.
