Dirty hands. Contaminated surfaces. Are you getting more than you ordered when you eat out in Altadena?
Food facility inspection results for the community, including any violations for which an establishment was cited, can be found online at the Food Facility Rating page at the Los Angeles County Public Health website.
Consumers can search the results for Altadena—as well as any city in Los Angeles County—and view current scores and the last date of inspection. You may also view past letter grades.
Of 63 restaurants or food-serving establishments in Altadena, all passed inspection.
The only three that received lower than an ‘A’ were Dutch Oven, Oh Happy Days Natural Foods and ARCO am/pm mini market on Lake Avenue.
Some Problems Cited
Dutch Oven
- Score: 80 (B)
- Ready to eat food exposed to possible contamination
- Improperly covered/labeled/elevated food
- Wiping cloths – not clean/inadequate sanitizer/storage
ARCO am/pm Mini Market
- Score: 80 (B)
- Holding of PHF (Potentially Hazardous Foods) – multiple servings (major)
- Clean/Sanitizing – food contact surfaces (major)
Oh Happy Day’s Natural Foods
- Score: 85 (B)
- Clean/sanitizing – food contact surfaces (major)
- Ready to eat food – exposed to possible contamination
For more information on how food facilities are scored and graded, read the Retail Food Inspection Guide attached to this story in the media box.
Do these grades affect whether or not you will go to certain businesses? Share your thoughts below.
While it may seem odd to see ARCO graded with restaurants, any business that handles food is included, so an ARCO in any other community would also be graded.
He put the cooking utensil, the same steel pad that they use on the grill all day and scrubed the back wall with it. Then the next guy came with the shrimp to be cooked, and placed it on the counter next to him. The cleaning guy started hosing the wall, splashing some of the water, hitting the shrimp. Then he Made a four second motion of rinsing the wok, which of course he then proceeded to put the already contaminated shrimp in......to cook me a wonderful meal. I was not mad by this point. It was a made for movie comedy. I called over the only girl that spoke english, explained what I saw. She did not look the least surprised or rustled. I asked her in a heart to heart sorta way, how do you keep customers like this. I have been coming here for 15 years and would rather you clean up the act. All she could say was that she understood, and will not charge me for not taking the food. I was intent on undercover filming it, but never did. Lake avenue,and Howard in Pasadena. IMPORTANT: This was three years ago and may be different by now. Try closing time on saturday to see. I have not been back
http://publichealth.lacounty.gov/rating/