24 Critical Violations: Uncovering This Week’s Lowest Performing Establishment

LUBBOCK, Texas (KCBD) – This week, health inspectors visited over 80 food places in Lubbock to check their cleanliness. Out of these, two establishments stood out for all the wrong reasons, making it onto the Food for Thought list.

Popeyes, located at 2505 82nd, faced 24 violations during the inspection. Here are some of the major issues:

• Raw chicken was undercooked at 155 degrees, but it should be cooked to at least 165 degrees to kill harmful bacteria.
• Rice and mashed potatoes weren’t served hot enough, needing to be at least 135 degrees.
• There’s no thermometer in the cooler, which is essential for checking food temperatures accurately.
• Sanitation concerns included a solution at toxic levels and a sanitizer bucket improperly placed on a prep table.
• The backflow prevention device on the mop sink, a repeat violation, resulted in a $175 penalty.

The inspector noted that the management seemed to lack proper food safety knowledge based on these violations.

On the other hand, Core had similar setbacks. Issues included:

• The back door was propped open, inviting pests to enter.
• A heavy buildup of ice was noted in the reach-in freezer.
• Multiple reusable cups were found improperly used for dispensing food items.
• Various areas were heavily soiled with food debris.

Despite these findings, most violations were corrected on-site by management.

Now for some good news! There’s a Top Performer this week: Chick-Fil-A at 312 University. They stood out for their strong commitment to food safety and cleanliness.

Understanding food safety is crucial. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), about 48 million people in the U.S. get sick from foodborne illnesses each year. This highlights the importance of thorough inspections like these. More restaurants are improving their practices every day, and it’s essential for everyone to do their part to keep our food safe.

For more information on the importance of food safety practices, you can check the CDC’s resources here.

Source link