WEST CHESTER, PA — A sweeping round of restaurant and retail food inspections across Chester County on Monday exposed a series of sanitation, maintenance, and food-handling failures that health officials warn could pose risks to public safety if left uncorrected.
The Chester County Health Department released inspection reports from January 12 showing violations at multiple food establishments ranging from casual dining restaurants and bakeries to national chains and grocery retailers. Officials stressed that each inspection represents only a snapshot in time but said the findings still offer an important look inside how safely food is being handled and prepared.
Among the locations cited was Aventura at Pembrooke, a restaurant on West Chester Pike in West Chester, where inspectors documented dented canned foods stored for use, a broken hand-washing sink in the food preparation area, ice buildup in a freezer, and widespread cleaning issues. Inspectors also reported missing temperature labels for the high-temperature dishwasher, making it impossible to verify whether dishes were being sanitized at the required 160 degrees Fahrenheit or higher. Stained or missing ceiling tiles in kitchen and storage areas were also ordered replaced…