Berks food safety inspections observed evidence of pest activity in a dish-washing area

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 Nov. 22 and Dec. 5, 2023, that were filed in the state database as of Dec. 7 at 3 p.m.

Berks

Berks

Anthony’s Coal Fired Pizza, 2733 Papermill Road, Wyomissing, Dec. 5: two violations. The handwash sink in the bar area was blocked by a small trash can and was not accessible at all times for employee use. Corrected. Lights are not shielded or shatter proof in the dry storage room.

Go Fish Seafood, 301 S. Hull St., Reading, Dec. 5: nine violations. Food employees observed in sushi area, not wearing proper hair restraints, such as nets, hats, or beard covers. Corrected. Shellstock located in the basement freezer area did not have identification tags attached to the container. Untagged container of clams from unknown date in freezer. discarded. Single-use deli containers being used as scoops and laying in food products. Food facility does not have available chlorine sanitizer test strips or test kit to determine appropriate sanitizer concentration. Chlorine chemical sanitizer residual detected in the final sanitizer rinse cycle of the low temperature sanitizing dishwasher was 0 ppm, and not 50-100 ppm as required. Bottle empty and replaced. Corrected. Food facility person in charge does not have records to demonstrate routine inspection and service of backflow prevention devices and other water treatment devices. Filters for ice machine are not dated with last date of service. Working containers in stairway area, used for storing *chemicals, cleaners* taken from bulk supplies, were not marked with the common name of the chemical. Corrected. 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. Facility does not currently have a calibrated ph meter as per written HAACP plan. Food facility HACCP plan does not have all required elements as outlined in the PA Food Code and is missing updated and yearly review information and also ph records for sushi rice are incomplete and have not been filled out since Nov.. This is a repeat violation. Out of compliance.

Masa Hibachi & Sushi, 2733 Papermill Road, Wyomissing, Dec. 5: three violations. Observed an accumulation of old food debris/dirt on the floor and wall at the end of the sushi preparation area and under the fryers/grill area. Some of the floor tiles are missing at the back door, located in the kitchen area. The metal door frame for the back door, located in the kitchen area, is deteriorated and is no longer properly sealed.

Snowfox Sushi-Weis #184, 61 Kings Plaza, Oley, Dec. 5: no violations.

Zoup Fresh Soup Company, 760 Woodland Road, Wyomissing, Dec. 5: four violations. Food facility does not have available sanitizer test strips to determine appropriate sanitizer concentration. The handwash sink in the back area was blocked by dirty dishes and was not accessible at all times for employee use. Corrected. Plumbing system not maintained in good repair – observed water leaking at two of the sink drains and a faucet in the back area. Paper towel dispenser empty at the handwash sink in the back area. Corrected.

Aramark/KU Academic Forum, 15200 Kutztown Road, Kutztown, Dec. 4: one violation. Observed sticky residue along the wall near the soda box area in the dry storage room.

Aramark/KU Student Union & Library, 15200 Kutztown Road, Kutztown, Dec. 4: one violation. Paper towel dispenser empty at one of the handwash sinks in the kitchen area. Corrected.

Bernville Beverage, 7178 Bernville Road, Bernville, Dec. 4: no violations.

Huddle House, 2210 Camp Swatara Road, Frystown, Dec. 4: seven violations. Interior of lid of the salad bain marie is loose and hanging down and must be repaired. Hood system is not adequate to remove heat and/or grease, as evidenced by condensate and/or grease collecting on the walls, ceilings, and fixtures. System has been red tagged since June. Observed clean food equipment and/or utensils in clean dish rack area, stored wet in a manner that does not allow for draining and/or air drying (wet nesting). Also several containers have broken edges and were discarded. The food facility does not maintain Food Employee Certification records as required. Class is scheduled for 1/9/23. Old food residue, dishes and utensils observed in the handwash sink, indicating uses other than handwashing. Ceiling tiles missing in the dish marchine area, and need replaced. All ceiling vents of the food facility is extremely dirty, dusty, and in need of cleaning.

Redner’s Quick Shoppe #28, 6719 Bernville Road, Bernville, Dec. 4: five violations. Loose/torn rubber door gaskets observed on the deli bain marie cooling unit. Also several doors of the customer reach in milk/drink coolers have torn gaskets. The food facility does not maintain Food Employee Certification records as required. Testing scheduled for January. Mop sink has a hose attachment that is hanging below the flood rim of the sink and not an appropriate air gap. Deli handwash sink faucet is cracked and broken at the base of handles. Food facility person in charge does not have records to demonstrate routine inspection and service of backflow prevention devices and other water treatment devices. Filters for the ice machine do not have a date of last service.

Smokey Bones Bar & Fire Grill #7552, 2723 N. Meridian Blvd., Wyomissing, Dec. 4: no violations.

Countryside Eatery, 15382 Kutztown Road, Kutztown, Dec. 1: no violations.

Deluxe Restaurant, 2295 Lancaster Pike, Shillington, Dec. 1: three violations. Observed wet wiping cloths in Counter area, not being stored in sanitizer solution. Corrected. Observed single use condiment cups on cook line not covered or inverted. Corrected. Working containers in counter area, used for storing *chemicals, cleaners* taken from bulk supplies, were not marked with the common name of the chemical. Corrected.

Kona Ice Mini-Xpj1965-Mff2, 1751 South Mountain Road, Reading, Dec. 1: no violations.

Koziar’s Christmas Village, 782 Christmas Village Road, Bernville, Dec. 1: no violations.

Peter Pipers Pickle Palace, 740 Noble St., Kutztown, Dec. 1: no violations.

Saucony Cafe, 100 Constitution Blvd., Kutztown, Dec. 1: one violation. Thermometer for ensuring proper temperature of equipment is not available or readily accessible in the bain marie. Corrected.

Poor Richard’s, 64 Star Road, Hereford, Nov. 30: no violations.

Aldi #82, 4703 Perkiomen Ave., Reading, Nov. 28: three violations. The floor / wall juncture in the dishwasher area is still not coved and closed to 1/32 inch (coving is missing), and a section of FRP wallboard is now pulling away from the wall in this same area. An insect control device is located near the slicer with potential to contaminate food and/or equipment. Corrected. Working container (spray bottle) in dishwashing area, used for storing chemicals, cleaners taken from bulk supplies, was not marked with the common name of the chemical. Corrected.

Black Jax American Pub And Grill, 668 Ben Franklin Highway, Birdsboro, Nov. 28: no violations.

Moselem Springs Golf Club, 684 Eagle Road, Fleetwood, Nov. 28: one violation. The slicer, a food contact surface, was observed to have dried food residue and was not clean to sight and touch. Corrected immediately.

Pour House American Grille, 3341 Pricetown Road, Fleetwood, Nov. 28: three violations. The floor / wall juncture in the dishwasher area is still not coved and closed to 1/32 inch (coving is missing), and a section of FRP wallboard is now pulling away from the wall in this same area. An insect control device is located near the slicer with potential to contaminate food and/or equipment. Corrected. Working container (spray bottle) in dishwashing area, used for storing chemicals, cleaners taken from bulk supplies, was not marked with the common name of the chemical. Corrected.

Say Cheese! Restaurant & Cheese, 600 Penn Ave., West Reading, Nov. 28: no violations.

Wendy’s # 19303, 712 W. Penn Ave., West Reading, Nov. 28: four violations. Temperature measuring device for ensuring proper temperature of equipment is not available or readily accessible in the Bain Marie Units on the cook line. Corrected. Observed the lemonade dispenser, in front area, with an accumulation of food residue, on non-food contact surfaces. Observed a buildup of food residue and trash under the cook line and equipment in drive thru area and front counter area. Observed clean food equipment and/or utensils in ware washing area, stored wet in a manner that does not allow for draining and/or air drying (wet nesting).

West Reading Elementary, Fourth Ave & Chestnut St., West Reading, Nov. 28: no violations.

Arby’s #5229, 15506 Kutztown Road, Kutztown, Nov. 27: three violations. There is an accumulation of dirt/debris on the floor under the equipment in the drive-thru area. Ventilation system covers in the ceiling, located in the back area near the ice machine and back door, have a heavy accumulation of dust/dirt. The floor drain in the back utility closet is clogged and overflowing. Floor tiles at the junction with the walk-in cooler door are damaged, leaving a gap where dirt can accumulate.

Duffer’s Beer & Soda, 403 Greenwich St., Kutztown, Nov. 27: no violations.

Homewood Suites By Hilton, 2801 Papermill Road, Wyomissing, Nov. 27: three violations. The ice machine in the kitchen, a food contact surface, was observed to have food residue and was not clean to sight and touch. Observed juice dispensing equipment with residue accumulating on the non-food contact portion of the machine. Light is not shielded or shatterproof over the dry storage area.

Kutztown Beverage, 78 S. Whiteoak St., Kutztown, Nov. 27: no violations.

Lafaver Family Farm, 840 N. Park Road Suite 121, Reading, Nov. 27: no violations.

Logan’s Roadhouse, 65 Wilderness Trail, Hamburg, Nov. 27: no violations.

Moe’s Southwest Grill #1913, 1070 Berkshire Blvd., Wyomissing, Nov. 27: four violations. Temperature measuring device for ensuring proper temperature of equipment is not available or readily accessible in the Bain Marie on the service line. Corrected. Observed a buildup of food residue on the non-contact portion of the soda machine. Observed a heavy build-up of old food residue under the equipment and in the floor drains throughout the facility both in the front service area and in the back prep area. Observed dirt and old food debris on the floor under the shelves in the walk-in cooler. Wall in the back area by the brooms is missing a tile and is roughened and is not a smooth, easily cleanable surface. Air vents in the back area observed to have a buildup of dust and need to be cleaned.

Residence Inn By Marriott Reading, 45 Berkshire Court, Wyomissing, Nov. 27: five violations. Temperature measuring device for ensuring proper temperature of equipment is not available or readily accessible in the small refrigerator by the walk-in cooler. Observed the juice dispensing machine, in the serving area, with an accumulation of food residue, on non-food contact surfaces. Corrected. Observed a build-up of food debris on in the cabinets of the serving area of the kitchen. Corrected. Soap was not available at the hand wash sink in the bar area. Corrected. Paper towel dispenser empty at the hand wash sink in the kitchen area. Corrected.

Rite Aid #3425, 807 S. Fourth St., Hamburg, Nov. 27: no violations.

Rutter’s #92, 15475 Kutztown Road, Kutztown, Nov. 27: no violations.

Tony’s Pizza Shop, 6 W. Franklin St., Topton, Nov. 27: no violations.

Muhlenberg Township

Reading Hotels LLC// Reading, 2200 Stacey Drive,, Nov. 26: four violations. Plastic knives for guest use not stored with handles up to prevent contamination of eating portion of utensil. Corrected on site. Small refrigerators, front and back, are not maintaining temperatures of < or equal to 41 degrees. Refrigerator thermometer not available in small refrigerators. Sanitizer test strips not available to confirm sanitizer concentration. Thermometer sanitizer wipes not available to sanitize thermometer between foods.

Temple Family Restaurant/, 4949 N. Fifth St. Highway,, Nov. 26: two violations. Cook’s freezer – gasket and side panel soiled. Compressor dusty. Observed sheet pans stacked/stored while wet. Corrective intervention with stacking for drying in process. Out of compliance.

Tlacuani Mexican Restaurant, 5005 Kutztown Road,, Nov. 25: eight violations. Raw chicken was stored above raw beef in the reach-in refrigerator. Corrected on inspection. Observed lower door panel of walk-in refrigerator missing. Current surface is not a smooth cleanable surface. Interior panel of ice machine, a food contact surface, was observed to be soiled and was not clean to sight. Utensils observed stored with food contact portion standing up versus stored with handles up. The food facility does not employee a certified employee as required. ServSafe Manager certification required vs ServSafe Handler. Walls adjacent to and behind the ice machine are not an easily cleanable material. Walls have chipping paint in areas throughout the kitchen/storage room. No signage posted at the handwash sink in the men’s and ladies’ rest rooms to remind food employees to wash their hands. Mops are not being hung to air dry.

Reading

None filed.

UPDATES

The following reports for the period of Nov. 8 to Nov. 22, 2023, were added to the state’s database after Nov. 23 and did not appear in the previous Berks food safety report.

Berks

Nature’s Garden Store, 4360 Perkiomen Ave., Reading, Nov. 21: no violations.

Porky’s Last Stand Smokehouse + Bbq Mff3, 924 W. Penn Ave., Robesonia, Nov. 21: one violation. No sign or poster posted at the handwash sink in the sink area to remind food employees to wash their hands.

Rite Aid #11173, 2962 Saint Lawrence Ave., Reading, Nov. 21: one violation. Mops are not being hung to air dry.

Saoko Bar & Lounge, 4050 Conrad Weiser Parkway, Womelsdorf, Nov. 21: no violations.

Say Cheese! Restaurant & Cheese, 600 Penn Ave., West Reading, Nov. 21: nine violations. Food facility does not have available sanitizer test strips or test kit to determine appropriate sanitizer concentration at the 3 bay sink. Corrected. Observed deeply scored cutting boards not resurfaced or discarded as required. Corrected. Observed an accumulation of old food debris under the shelving in the walk in cooler. Corrected. Observed a heavy accumulation of old food residue in the pre rinse nozzle for the warewashing area. Corrected. Observed the top cover of the Bain Marie stored on the floor in the main kitchen area. Corrected. Observed clean food equipment and/or utensils in ware washing area, stored wet in a manner that does not allow for draining and/or air drying (wet nesting). Stickers for labeling food containers not being removed from the containers that have been cleaned and will be reused. Handwashing sink in the main kitchen area does not have guards in place to prevent contamination of prep area. Mop sink has a hose attachment that is hanging below the flood rim of the sink and not an appropriate air gap. Corrected. Lights are not shielded or shatterproof over the dry storage area. Observed evidence of pest activity in the ware washing area. Facility has a contract in place with an outside pest control company. Mops are not being hung to air dry. Corrected. Out of compliance.

Tristan And Sons Cakes & Shakes, 10 S. Fifth Ave., West Reading, Nov. 21: five violations. Observed milkshake equipment, in front service area, with an accumulation of dust, dirt, food residue, debris on non-food contact surfaces. Corrected. Hot water not available in the front employee bathroom. Handwashing sink in the front preparation area is leaking from the drain pipe. Toilet room at the front counter does not have a self-closing door. Mops are not being hung to air dry.

Crumbl Cookies, 2779 Papermill Road, Wyomissing, Nov. 20: four violations. Food dispensing utensil in the bulk food bins observed stored in the food and not with handle above the top of the food and the container. Corrected. Temperature measuring device for ensuring proper temperature of equipment is not available or readily accessible in five of the refrigerators. Corrected. There is an accumulation of dirt, old food debris on the floor under and around the grey storage racks in the back area. Women’s toilet room is not provided with a covered waste receptacle for sanitary napkins.

Lio Colons Food Bus-Mff4 Ba78574, 3929 Rosewood Road, Reading, Nov. 20: two violations. Observed in-use spatulas stored between hood ledge an area not easily cleanable & sanitized. Corrected. Observed single-service, single-use articles stored in shelf area which were not in the original protective package or covered or inverted. Corrected.

Rite Aid #1975, 4810 Penn Ave., Sinking Spring, Nov. 20: no violations.

Saint Ignatius Loyola School, 2700 St. Albans Drive, West Lawn, Nov. 20: two violations. Lights are not shielded or shatter proof over the dishwasher area. Ceiling fan blades in kitchen area of the food facility are dusty and in need of cleaning.

Aldi #182, 1065 Woodland Road, Reading, Nov. 17: two violations. Severely dented, swollen, distressed canned item observed in canned food aisle and intended for use or sale in the food facility. Corrected. Mops are not being hung to air dry. Corrected.

American Legion Post #537, 4499 N. Twin Valley Road, Morgantown, Nov. 17: one violation. Food facility does not have available sanitizer test strips or test kit to determine appropriate sanitizer concentration.

City Girl Juice, 18 State Hill Road, Wyomissing, Nov. 17: two violations. Hot soup was held at 111 °F, in the soup warmer area, rather than 135°F or above as required. Corrected. Customer self-service single-use tableware is not displayed in a manner so that only the handles are touched by customers. Corrected.

Lebanon Valley Sportsman Club, 841 Sportsman Road, Robesonia, Nov. 17: no violations.

Lil’s Bakery, 845 B Woodland Road, Wyomissing, Nov. 17: two violations. Observed bulk flour bags stored directly on the floor in baking area, rather than 6 inches off of the floor as required. Single use containers stored on shelf in baking area not stored inverted to protect from contamination. Corrected.

Salads & Desserts At Smuckers, 845 B Woodland Road, Wyomissing, Nov. 17: four violations. Plastic spatula used for cooking are deformed and misshapen from use, and are not durable under normal use in the food facility. Corrected. Temperature measuring device for ensuring proper temperature of equipment is not available or readily accessible in the walk-in cooler. Food facility does not have available sanitizer test strips or test kit to determine appropriate sanitizer concentration. Cold water handle at the handwash sink is broken.

Brasilian Sweets And Treats Kiosk, 1665 State Hill Road, Wyomissing, Nov. 16: one violation. The ingredient labels only list ‘flour’ and do not identify that ingredient as a ‘wheat’ allergen.

Hickory Farms Berkshire Mall Tfs1, 1665 State Hill Road, Wyomissing, Nov. 16: no violations.State Hill Road, Wyomissing , Nov. 16: no violations.