An East Side eatery reportedly failed a city health inspection in October, after an inspector found rodent droppings and urine on the lid of a relish container, Metropolitan Health records show.
Chris and Kids in the 600 block of Porter Street sell several food items including snow cones.
They have also been cited for having a fly strip to catch pests placed above food and food preparation items and for having a black mildew-like substance on the legs of its ice scraper.
The inspector reportedly used a black light to verify the liquid on the relish container was rodent urine, according to the report.
The inspector noted that in addition to being found on the container, rodent droppings were also found throughout the establishment.
“The health inspector already came back and said we’re doing a good job of cleaning up,” said a Chris and Kids employee.
City health records show that a follow-up inspection last week determined that all but two violations had been corrected,
Lydia’s Taco House, a restaurant located in the 500 block of South W.W. White Road, received a failing score of 67 after an inspector last month found beans being stored in a refrigerator that was 25 degrees warmer than health standards allow.
Lydia’s owner was also witnessed using bare hands to handle food, and it was noted that fried food items were being stored in cardboard boxes.
When asked by reporters whether the violations had been fixed an employee yelled, “We already did!”
However, a follow-up inspection that was conducted last week found that the owner was again using bare hands to handle food. This was one of five violations that had yet to be corrected.
ALERT: Freshcut Veggies Recalled Across U.S. and Canada
Implicated brands include Mann’s, Walmart, Trader Joe’s, HEB, Sysco and more
Mann Packing Co. Inc. has announced a recall of almost 150 freshcut vegetable products nationwide, in both USA and Canada.
The recall is due to of a positive test showing Listeria contamination.
The recall includes a wide variety of “minimally processed vegetable products” which are packaged under several different brands including:
- Mann’s
- Trader Joe’s
- Walmart
- and others.
A random test by Canadian officials has indicated Listeria monocytogenes contamination of one of the products. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency then informed Mann Packing of the test result.
Consumers are now urged to check their homes for unused portions of the affected products and immediately dispose of them or return them to the place of purchase.
“Mann Packing is issuing this recall out of an abundance of caution. To date, public health officials have not reported any illnesses associated with these products,” according to the news release from the Salinas, CA, produce company.
Mann has distributed the recalled products throughout the United States and Canada.
The affected products have “best if used by” dates from Oct. 11 through Oct. 20 listed on the front of the packaging.
A full list of the recalled products distributed at retail and foodservice, including product names, brands, UPC codes and “best if used by” dates is available by clicking here.
Any person who has consumed any of the recalled fresh produce — which includes veggie trays, shaved and chopped vegetables, rice dishes, various slaws, and salad kits — and developed symptoms of Listeria infection, are asked to immediately seek medical attention and tell their doctors about the possible exposure to the bacteria.
It can possibly take up to 70 days after exposure for listeriosis symptoms to develop, so any person who has eaten the recalled products should monitor themselves for the coming weeks.
Symptoms may include fever, severe headache, stiffness, nausea, abdominal pain and diarrhea.
Listeria monocytogenes can also cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young kids, frail or elderly people, and those with weakened immune systems, including cancer patients and organ transplant recipients.
Mann Packing is reportedly cooperating with U.S. and Canadian health officials on this recall, according to the company’s news release.
The produce company has been contacting all affected customers to confirm that the recalled product is removed from store shelves.
“As an owner of this company and a mom, providing safe and healthy foods to our consumers and their families is always our top priority,” said Gina Nucci, director of corporate marketing for Mann. “This voluntary recall is a reflection of our commitment to ensuring the safety of our consumers.”
The following brands of fresh vegetable products are included in the recall:
- Mann’s
- Western Family
- Archer Farms
- HEB
- Little Salad Bar
- Signature Farms
- Trader Joe’s
- Walmart
- Cross Valley Farms
- Sysco Natural
It’s also important to note that recall notices do not expire, so you should always refer to the product codes and dates and packaging when becoming aware of a recall. You can also visit the Kids Safety Network website regularly to keep up to date with all important recall notices.