Food for Thought Report 10.3 - KCBD NewsChannel 11 Lubbock

Inspectors were out and about in the city and county this week looking into kitchens at schools and restaurants. We start with a perfect performance at one Lubbock school and short of perfect at another.

At the head of the class is Tubbs Elementary at 3311 Bates. With zero critical violations, they are a Food for Thought Top Performer. Then it's over to McWhorter Elementary where one critical violation was found. A spatula needed to be replaced in order to maintain clean food contact surfaces. The report shows the violation was corrected on site.

Our first Low Performer is Joe's Pizza and Pasta at 1211 University. Five critical violations were found. Violations including:

• Hamburger, sausage and bacon being held for an undetermined amount of time at 77 degrees. Hot foods must be kept at a minimum of 140 degrees or be discarded after four hours.
• A hand sink was used as a dump sink. Hand sinks must be used for no other purpose than hand washing.
• A dented can was found in the ready supply of canned food.
• There was improper use of a date marking system. Portions of sliced meat were found in a walk in with no discard date.
• There was also no time indicated as to when storable, pizza and other foods were prepared--the items must be labeled and discarded 4 hours from that time. And a bottle of spray cleaner was not marked.

The report says four critical violations were corrected on site. The Manager at Joe's told us the inspector visited the restaurant during the lunch rush and that everything has been corrected.

This week's other Low Performer is Outlaw's Bar B Q at 9704 Highway 87. Seven critical violations were found. Violations including:

• Ham found inside a food warmer with an internal temperature of 116 degrees. Hot food must be kept at 140 degrees or hotter.
• A hand sink was not available in the food prep area.
• Hot water was not available in the rest room hand sink.
• Hand soap and hand towels were not available in the restroom hand sink.
• A three compartment sink was not available in the kitchen--only a one compartment sink.
• A cooling unit did not have a thermometer.
• A health permit from the City of Lubbock was not available.

The report says two of the critical violations were corrected on site. The Manager at Outlaw's told NewsChannel 11 they now have a three compartment sink in the kitchen area and it will be operating shortly. He said the restaurant is inside an old building and that's why the hot water in the rest room was not working, but it will operating shortly. He said the restaurant was using an old health permit from their previous location, and now they have a current permit. He said all other violations have been corrected.