WEST CHESTER, PA — A routine round of health inspections across Chester County this week surfaced a string of food safety lapses at popular eateries, prompting corrective action on the spot and renewed reminders that even brief missteps can carry risks.
The inspections, conducted Friday by the Chester County Health Department, are intended to give the public a snapshot of sanitation and food-handling practices at licensed food facilities, including restaurants and specialty food shops. Officials caution that each inspection reflects conditions at a specific moment in time and may not represent an establishment’s overall compliance history.
At California Tortilla in Exton, inspectors cited multiple time-and-temperature violations, including vinaigrette held at 54 degrees instead of the required 41 degrees or below and hot-held foods, such as chicken and queso, measuring between 118 and 127 degrees—short of the 135-degree minimum. Both issues were addressed during the inspection, with foods returned to proper holding conditions. Additional violations included unlabeled squeeze bottles, missing date marks on ready-to-eat foods, a lack of sanitizer test strips, and empty soap and paper towel dispensers at a handwash sink. Inspectors also noted equipment leaks and the absence of a certified food employee, requiring follow-up action…