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Roaches. Bugs in bourbon. Old food. Risk of illness. Wichita KS restaurant inspections

Wichita Eagle - 4/12/2024

Apr. 12—Seven restaurants, stores and other businesses in Wichita were out of compliance during food safety and lodging inspections conducted by the Kansas Department of Agriculture last week.

Their problems include fruit flies in liquor bottles, poor record-keeping of information used to trace sources of foodborne illnesses, an iced-up cooler that didn't keep food cold enough, employees who touched food after handling cash without washing their hands, old risotto balls, kitchen practices that increase the risk of botulism, problems in bathrooms and cockroaches around a freezer, according to inspection reports.

Information about the food establishments and a summary of their violations appear below. The list includes inspections conducted in Sedgwick County from March 31 to April 6. The list was compiled April 11.

More than 70 establishments passed inspections during that same time. Some may have been non-compliant in previous weeks.

Business owners or managers can contact Eagle reporter Amy Renee Leiker at 316-268-6644 or aleiker@wichitaeagle.com to comment on inspection results that appear in this story.

More details about the inspection results are in The Eagle's searchable database of non-compliant restaurant and hotel inspections at www.kansas.com/databases.

Out-of-compliance inspections

Amore Italian Restaurant, 2315 W. 21st St., Suite 101 in Wichita — Three violations on April 2 during a follow-up inspection. Bottles of Bulleit bourbon and Martini & Rossi vermouth had several fruit flies in them because the caps weren't placed on the pour spouts, at least a dozen pans in clean storage were soiled with sticker residue, fruit flies flying around kitchen. Next inspection: April 12.

Cevicheria y Botanas La Isla, 201 E. 21st St., Suite 500 in Wichita — Six violations on April 4 during a routine inspection. Ceviche wasn't cold enough in a reach-in cooler, no test strips for measuring concentration of chlorine sanitizer, restaurant didn't keep shellstock tags for oysters and mussels which is required to identify the source of any foodborne illness that might occur, dirty pitcher and utensils were in a sink that's supposed to be dedicated to hand-washing, no hot water at bathroom sink, items served raw or undercooked weren't marked on the menu. Next inspection: April 14.

Dollar General Store, 2747 Boulevard Plaza in Wichita — Three violations on April 4 during a routine inspection. Several items were too warm in refrigeration and had to be thrown out because there was ice build up next to and on a fan in the reach-in cooler, perfume stored above dietary supplements, expired aspirin on sales shelves. Next inspection: April 14.

McDonald's, 7311 W. 21st St. in Wichita — Two violations on April 5 during a modified complaint inspection. Employees at the drive-thru window don't have a nearby hand-washing sink, cashier at drive-thru window handled cash then packed a customer's food order without washing their hands. Next inspection: April 15.

Mike's Wine Dive, 4714 E. Douglas in Wichita — Seven violations on April 3 during a routine inspection. Old arancini (risotto balls), bottles of sanitizer weren't labeled with contents, restaurant wasn't keeping shellstock tags for oysters for the required 90 days to trace back the source of foodborne illness outbreaks should they occur, salmon was thawing in intact vacuum packaging which poses a risk of botulism, tomatoes weren't cold enough in a refrigerated preparation table, raw chicken was stored behind raw salmon in cooler drawer under grill which increases cross-contamination risk, cartons of milk and cream weren't labeled with package opening dates. Next inspection: April 13.

Petro America, 1161 N. Broadway in Wichita — Five violations on April 4 during a complaint inspection. Business was storing pesticide not rated for use in food establishments, no hot water due to a broken water heater, no back flow prevention installed on mop sink in storage area, no paper towels at employee bathroom sink or in storage room sink, raw eggs were stored above packaged juices and beverages. Next inspection: April 14.

Pho KC, 4875 E. Pawnee in Wichita — One violation on April 5 during a modified complaint inspection. Living and dead cockroaches including on a glue trap and around a reach-in freezer. Next inspection: April 15.

How establishments fail

Most violations are minor and are corrected during an inspection.

Businesses fall out of compliance when they have too many violations, issues that can cause foodborne illnesses or when a problem can't be fixed right away, such as bug and rodent infestations. Typically, establishments are re-inspected within 10 days.

It's rare for a facility to shut down over a failed inspection. But it can happen due to things like sewage backups, pest problems, and water or power outages. Usually, closures are temporary.

You can search food and lodging inspection results in any Kansas county at www.foodsafety.kda.ks.gov/FoodSafety/Web/Inspection/PublicInspectionSearch.aspx.

How to complain

If you see problems at a food or lodging establishment, you can file a complaint.

To notify the state about unsavory or questionable conditions anywhere that serves or sells food to the public, email kda.fsl@ks.gov or call 785-564-6767. You can also file a report at www.foodsafetykansas.org.

To report an illness you think was caused by a restaurant, food or event, contact the Kansas Department of Health and Environment at 877-427-7317 or www.foodsafetykansas.org.

Complaints about conditions at hotels and motels can be submitted at https://agriculture.ks.gov/kda-services/complaint-form/food-safety-and-lodging-complaint.

For more information about foodborne illnesses, visit www.foodsafety.gov.

These businesses passed inspections last week

— American Legion Post #136, 410 S.E. Louis Drive in Mulvane

— Andale Elementary and Middle School, 500 W. Rush in Andale

— Andale High School, 700 W. Rush in Andale

— Best Western Plus Wichita West Airport Inn, 3800 W. Kellogg Drive in Wichita

— Bread Sled Cafe (mobile vendor/food truck), 4719 N. Arkansas in Wichita

— Brunin Family Cafe, 320 N. Main in Andale

— Cabela's, 2427 N. Greenwich in Wichita

— Casey's General Store, 3520 N. Woodlawn in Wichita

— China Go, 3700 N. Woodlawn, Suite 105 in Wichita

— Christ the King Catholic School, 4501 W. Maple in Wichita

— Christa McAuliffe K-8 Academy, 2055 S. 143rd St. East in Wichita

— City Bites, 3570 N. Woodlawn in Wichita

— Clearwater Elementary School West, 100 S. Prospect in Clearwater

— Clearwater Intermediate-Middle School, 140 S. Fourth Ave. in Clearwater

— Curtis Middle School, 1031 S. Edgemoor in Wichita

— Dillons, 3707 N. Woodlawn in Wichita

— Dollar General Store, 220 E. Ford in Valley Center

— Dollar Tree, 3701 N. Maize Road in Wichita

— Dunkin Donuts/Chick-fil-A at Wichita Dwight D. Eisenhower National Airport, 2277 S. Eisenhower Airport Parkway in Wichita

— Fazoli's, 3553 N. Rock Road in Wichita

— Funky Monkey Munchies (mobile vendor/food truck), 2847 N. Woodland in Wichita

— Golden Corral Buffet & Grill, 616 S. Ridge Road in Wichita

— Griffith Elementary School, 1802 S. Bluff in Wichita

— Haysville High/Tri-City Day School, 1975 W. Grand in Haysville

— Hibachi Boy, 3010 E. Central in Wichita

— Horace Mann Dual Language Magnet Elementary School, 1243 N. Market in Wichita

— Indian Hills Meat & Poultry, 1200 N. Mosley in Wichita

— Interlocal Learning Center Mt. Hope, 500 W. Main in Mt. Hope

— Irving Elementary School, 1642 N. Market in Wichita

— Jackson Elementary School, 2717 N. Woodlawn in Wichita

— Jefferson Elementary School, 4615 E. Orme in Wichita

— Jinya Ramen Bar, 124 S. Broadway, Suite 101 in Wichita

— Jose Pepper's, 11423 E. 13th St. in Wichita

— Jump Start, 444 N. Oliver in Kechi

— Kentucky Fried Chicken, 1251 S. Woodlawn in Wichita

— Kraus Foods, 219 E. Chicago in Colwich

— Krua Thai, 7603 W. 21st St. in Wichita

— La Chinita Mexican Restaurant, 1051 N. Broadway in Wichita

— Landings Cafe at Bombardier Learjet, One Learjet Way, Building 4A in Wichita

— Larsen Community Center, 105 S. Ohio in Mt. Hope

— Little Bear Sports Bar & Grill, 315 N. Main in Andale

— Maize South Elementary School, 3404 N. Maize Road in Wichita

— Maize South Intermediate School, 9701 W. 37th St. North in Wichita

— Maize South Middle School, 3403 N. Tyler Road in Wichita

— Marineros Tacos y Mas (mobile vendor/food truck), 355 W. 21st St. in Wichita

— Mueller Elementary School, 2500 E. 18th St. in Wichita

— Nelson Elementary School, 245 N. Delos in Haysville

— New Holland Construction, 3301 S. Hoover in Wichita

— Noble House, 2119 W. 21st St. in Wichita

— Payne Elementary School, 1601 S. Edwards in Wichita

— Pinole Blue, 242 N. Cleveland in Wichita

— Pleasant Valley Middle School, 2220 W. 29th St. North in Wichita

— Prairie Elementary School, 7101 S. Meridian in Haysville

— Recreation Center at Wichita State University, 1845 N. Fairmount in Wichita

— Rico's Elotes y Mas #2 at Town East Square Mall, 7700 E. Kellogg Drive in Wichita

— Scooter's Coffee, 126 E. Fifth St. in Valley Center

— Scooter's Coffee, 4828 E. 35th St. North in Wichita

— Scooter's Coffee, 7399 W. Central in Wichita

— Sonic Drive-In, 3828 N. Woodlawn in Wichita

— Sonic Drive-In, 1828 E. 47th St. South in Wichita

— Spaight Science & Communications Magnet Elementary School, 2316 E. 10th St. in Wichita

— Spangles, 2310 N. Maize Road in Wichita

— St. Mark's Elementary School, 19001 W. 29th St. North in Colwich

— Subway, 3410 S. Hydraulic in Wichita

— Tacos Irapuato (mobile vendor/food truck), 2953 N. Broadway in Wichita

— The Depot, 711 E. Douglas, Suite 105 in Wichita

— Tru by Hilton Wichita Northeast, 1236 N. Greenwich in Wichita

— Valley Center High School, 9600 N. Meridian in Valley Center

— Valley Center Middle School, 800 N. Meridian in Valley Center

— Valley Center West Elementary School, 501 N. Sheridan in Valley Center

— Washington Accelerated Learning Elementary School, 424 N. Pennsylvania in Wichita

— Wendy's, 6404 W. Kellogg Drive in Wichita

— Wichita North Senior High School, 1437 N. Rochester in Wichita

— Wichita South High School, 701 W. 33rd St. South in Wichita

— Wyndham Garden Inn Downtown, 221 E. Kellogg in Wichita

— Ziggy's Pizza, 8404 W. 13th St. Suite 100 in Wichita

Note: Sometimes addresses listed — especially for mobile vendors and food trucks — are not where food is actually served to the public. Contact those establishments directly for specific service locations.

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