Each of New Canaan’s six public school cafeterias scored more than 90 points out of a possible 100 in recent unannounced inspections by the New Canaan Health Department.
None of the cafs were cited more serious “risk factor” violations during inspections conducted by Sanitarian and Restaurant/Food Inspector Carla DeLucia.
The overall scores were:
- East: 99
- South: 97
- West: 94
- Saxe: 98
- New Canaan High School: 93
Here are the details, noted by the sanitarian, at the most recent inspection for each school:
East (Oct. 24)—one violation:
- Original container, properly labeled: label shakers, condiment area.
South (Oct. 20)—two violations total:
- Hot and cold water under pressure, provided as required: Hot water at handwash sink 126 [degrees], lower and maintain (110-115 degrees);
- Adequate lighting provided as required: Replace light in walk-in freezer.
West (Oct. 24)—four violations total:
- Original container, properly labeled: Label shakers—condiment area;
- Food protected during storage, preparation, display, service and transportation: Provide a light cover – light in walk-in freezer or replace with ‘tuff skin’ bulb;
- Food-contact surfaces designed, constructed, maintained, installed, located: Replace worn cutting boards;
- Adequate lighting provided as required: Replace light bulb in walk-in refrigerator.
Saxe (Oct. 20)—one violation:
- Adequate facilities to maintain product temperature, thermometers provided: Provide thermometers in warest portion of reach-in refrigerator units (Snapple/Tropicana); magnetic, Cooper-brand, front of refrigerator.
NCHS (Oct. 6)—four violations:
- Food-contact surfaces designed, constructed, maintained, installed, located: Cutting boards (for example, worn and need replacing/fixing);
- Nonfood-contact surfaces designed, constructed, maintained, installed, located: Milk crates used throughout (dry storage/walk-in units) – provide off-the-floor shelving or drainage racks;
- Sanitization rinse (hot water – chemical): Change sanitizer in 3-bay sink (bleach zero percent), should be 50-100 ppm.
- Hot and cold water under pressure, provided as required: Hot water (122-130 degrees) reduce to 110-115 degrees.
Restaurants and cafeterias “fail” an inspection when cited for a major, 4-point violation, or if violation points assessed total more than 20.
None of the school cafeterias failed during inspections conducted in March and April. The last time each of them did earn a major violation/fail was:
- East: Jan. 12, 2007 (badly dented cans found in stock room)
- South: Jan. 23, 2012 (improperly cooled chicken soup)
- West: June 1, 2010 (cream cheese, butter, sour cream and shredded cheese all improperly stored on top of a tray of frozen ice; overly diluted bleach sanitizer at 3-bay sink)
- Saxe: Jan. 26, 2012 (dented, 6-pound can of Furmano’s chickpeas stored in dry storage area)
- New Canaan High School: May 4, 2007 (discolored minestrone served at improper temperature)