This feature on Northborough Patch lists the latest health inspections conducted by the town's Health Agent Jamie Terry. Inspections are conducted regularly, and are unannounced visits.
It is important to note that Terry has often stressed that it is very rare for an establishment to always receive a perfect inspection score.
The following list is one of a three-part series that we will run in successsion. Since inspections stretch back to mid-summer, and Patch is able to obtain the inspection information only after it is shared with the Board of Health, we have broken into segments so it is easier to read.
The Coleman House got a great inspection on Nov. 27, with everything from fish to broccoli to chicken to potatoes stored at the right temperature. "The kitchen is extremely clean and well maintained," noted Terry.
Nov. 27's inspection of Starbucks yielded no critical violations, with a good inspection that includes comments of "clean and well kept,""well dated ingredients,""appropriate temperature,""sandwich unit well dated."
Terry inspected Lowe's Variety and Meats on the same day, noting violations that included homemade dressing not kept in the refrigerator, two prepackaged meats near expiration, and a "few expired items such as hummus, yogurt and Rice-a-Roni." These items were removed during the visit. Otherwise, a good inspection with comments of "packaged food well dated,""meat at the appropriate temperature" and "walk-in meat cooler well dated."
Also on Nov. 27, Cocobeni Confections received a "great inspection," though it did contain one critical violation: expired milk, which was removed during the visit.
One critical violation marked the inspection at Trombetta's Farm on Nov. 28, and it was corrected during the visit (expired milk was removed). Otherwise, a "good" inspection revealed clean ice cream scoops sanitized and separated for each flavor and a well set up establishment.
A Dec. 5 inspection of Mama's Pizza marked two critical violations, with food not thawed properly and a handwashing sink without soap or paper towels. An otherwise positive inspection produced comments such as "establishment is extremely clean" and the "pizza unit is extremely fresh and well kept."
And the Amazing.net Supertore on Route 20 gets an inspection, too, which may be surprising to some. On Dec. 5, Terry noted one critical violation in the store: expired boxes of pasta.
Zero criticals were marked during the Dec. 5 inspection of Yama Zakura. It was a good inspection with "all items fresh and well stored with covered containers." Employees were sanitizing areas when Terry stopped in, and she noted that this "establishment is very clean."
"Old, moldy tomatoes" and some expired bread earned one critical violation for Davidian Brothers Farm on Dec. 6. Otherwise, this inspection was "good," and made note of an extremely clean slicer, a well-kept olive bar, well-kept prepped foods and employees wearing hairnets and hats.
Skribbles Learning Center received three critical marks on its Dec. 6 inspection from Terry, which involved moldy cucumbers, expired milk and no handwash or paper towels at the hand-washing sink.
In the retail spectrum—particularly Northborough Crossing—Petsmart received no violations during its inspection on Dec. 10, nor did Golf Town. Few probably think of TJ Maxx as a "place for food," but indeed the store does have some. Terry inspected TJ Maxx on Dec. 10, and found a few expired breakfast bars, which were removed. The Paper Store, too, had a critical violation because of some expired brownie mix, which GNC recieved no violations. Eastern Mountain Sports, also inspected on Dec. 10, got a "critical" mark for having a few expired Cliff Bars on the shelf. Those were removed. Continuing at Northborough Crossing on Dec. 10, both Kohl's and Michael's had no violations.
On Dec. 11, BJ's received a good inspection other than one critical violation, which was expired Earth's Pride orange, strawberry and banana juice. "Meats are all well-packaged and employees are knowledgable about the dates." The same day, Terry stopped into Babies R Us, which had one critical violation (two expired Pedialyte products). These were promptly removed from the shelf.
Romaine's Wood Grill and Bar received a good inspection that included a salad unit and meat cooler at the correct temperature, and an establishment that is "very clean and well kept." One critical violation was a sanitizer machine needing calibrating; the restaurant had already called to bring in someone to fix it.
Sanitizer strength being too strong (far exceeding the amount) was the only critical violation on the Dec. 12 inspection of the Pickle Haus Deli. With a few minor, noncrtitical violations, the Pickle Haus received a "good" inspection. "The employees all wore gloves and hats, the dumpster was clean and closed and the freezers and meats were at the appropriate temperature."
And JJ's, also on Dec. 12, got a "great inspection" with raw products stored properly, a knowledgable and helpful staff, extremely clean kitchen, items well-wrapped and covered, employees all wearing gloves and hats, excellent storage of prepped foods, and all foods dated properly.
Ihop received on critical violation on Dec. 12. The door, Terry noted, was not closed at all times to the kitchen. Otherwise, the inspection noted many "good" marks: dips well running, dumpster clean, milk and cream well dated, eggs and bacon kept at a good temperature, stock room clean and well kept.