Food for Thought Report 2.27 - KCBD NewsChannel 11 Lubbock

Food for Thought brings out one school, three Top Performers and two Low Performers. Let's see how the cookie crumbles in this week's edition.

McWhorter Elementary School at 2711 1st St. gets zero critical violations this week making them a Food for Thought Top Performer.

Now on to those Top Performing Restaurants. We get this report started where many start their day. Aroma's Coffee Shop at 5109 82nd Street is a Food for Thought Top Performer with zero critical violations.

Let's head to the next spot on the double. Double Dave's at 2102 Broadway brings in a perfect score, which means we'll be tossing a Top Performing certificate their way.

Finally, three perfect scores under one roof--the deli, meat department and grocery department at United at 8010 Frankford all get zero critical violations this week.

Now on to the first of our two Low Performers. IHOP at 1627 University is where five critical violations were found.

• Improper cold hold of certain foods. Ham and corn beef hash were found at 50 degrees. Cold foods must be held at 41 degrees or colder.
• Sausage patties were maintained at 130 degrees. Hot food must be kept at 140 degrees or hotter.
• Dented cans of tomatoes were found in the ready supply of canned food.
• Hand washing towels were missing from a hand washing station.
• Cooks were not supplied with thermometers to measure meat and cooking temperatures.

The Manager at IHOP told us an inspector had been back to visit the restaurant and that all critical violations have been corrected.

This week's other Low Performer is China Town at 5217 82nd. That's where six critical violations were found. Violations including:

• Improper cooling of cooked food. Sauce and cooked chicken were cooled at room temperature, both were found at 114 degrees after two hours.
• Dented cans were stored with cans to be used. Lemons were stored in ice that was to be used for drinks and consumed by customers.
• Raw chicken was found in a soiled container that was dripping, and was stored above vegetables.
• Ready to eat products were date marked improperly or not date marked at all.
• Bottles containing toxic material were not labeled.
• Thermometers were not provided.

Other violations included vegetables not stored at eat 6 inches from the ground in the bottom of a cooler, soiled hand washing sinks, bulk food that was uncovered, an absorbent shelf that is not easily cleanable being used to store dishes, soiled walls, soiled floors and soiled areas underneath equipment, bowls being used for scoops in bulk food and broken ice scoops.

When NewsChannel 11 called China Town, we were told a manager was not at the restaurant and no one was available for comment.

The inspection report shows five of the six critical violations were corrected on site.