Last week, four businesses in Wichita, Kansas were found to be out of compliance during food safety and lodging inspections conducted by the Kansas Department of Agriculture. The violations and details of each establishment are as follows:
1. Chicken Chicken, located at 2419 E. 13th St. in Wichita, received eleven violations during a complaint inspection on November 9. Violations included the absence of a test kit to measure sanitizer concentration in the sink, an employee not using soap to wash hands, the lack of a thermometer, accumulation of grease and food debris on cooking equipment, fish thawing in standing water instead of running water, no sanitizer being used for washing, no sanitizer on site, a leaky sink drain in the bathroom, no paper towels at the kitchen hand-washing sink, an employee not washing hands after handling raw meat, and pieces of raw chicken found in an open bag of flour under the breading station. The next inspection is scheduled for November 26.
2. Delicias De El Salvador, located at 1523 S. Seneca in Wichita, received seven violations during its first operational inspection after licensing on November 8. Violations included storing raw eggs and raw meat above ready-to-eat foods in the cooler, an unlabeled gallon of milk, no consumer advisory warning of the risk of eating undercooked foods, the presence of dead cockroaches, both live and dead cockroaches found around the restaurant, the use of chemicals not rated for use in restaurants to treat bug infestation, and improper refrigeration of cabbage and raw beef. The next inspection is scheduled for November 18.
3. La Sufrida Mexican Grill, located at 3827 W. 13th St. in Wichita, received eight violations during a follow-up inspection on November 6. Violations included an unlabeled gallon of milk, no paper towels at the hand-washing sink, the presence of dead cockroaches, cheese sauce not labeled with the correct preparation date, both live and dead cockroaches found in the kitchen and storage areas, the absence of a test kit for measuring sanitizer concentration, the use of insecticide not rated for use in restaurants, and no soap at the hand-washing sink behind the bar. The next inspection is scheduled for January 6.
4. Wyndham Garden Wichita Downtown, located at 221 E. Kellogg in Wichita, received one violation during a reopening inspection on November 9. The violation was the presence of bed bugs in room 406 and room 408. The next inspection is scheduled for November 19.
It is important to note that most violations are minor and are typically corrected during the inspection. Businesses are considered out of compliance when they have a significant number of violations, issues that can cause foodborne illnesses, or when a problem cannot be immediately fixed, such as bug and rodent infestations. Failed establishments are usually re-inspected within 10 days. Facility closures due to failed inspections are rare and temporary, typically occurring in cases of sewage backups, pest problems, or operating without essential utilities.
A list of over 50 establishments that passed inspections last week is also provided. It is worth mentioning that some of these establishments may have been non-compliant in previous weeks.
For more information and to search for food and lodging inspection results in any Kansas county, visit www.foodsafety.kda.ks.gov/FoodSafety/Web/Inspection/PublicInspectionSearch.aspx.
If owners or managers of the establishments mentioned in this article wish to comment on the inspection results, they can contact Eagle reporter Amy Renee Leiker at 316-268-6644 or aleiker@wichitaeagle.com.
To file a complaint about unsatisfactory conditions at a food or lodging establishment, email kda.fsl@ks.gov or call 785-564-6767. Complaints about illnesses caused by restaurants, food, or events can be reported to the Kansas Department of Health and Environment at 877-427-7317 or www.foodsafetykansas.org. Complaints regarding 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.
Note: Some addresses listed may not be the actual service locations for mobile vendors and food trucks. Contact the establishments directly for specific service locations.
