Leesport Diner fails health inspection while most Berks County eateries pass

The Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture uses a risk-based inspection reporting process for restaurants and other food handlers.

Fisher's Homestyle Salads, 2934 N. Fifth Street Highway, Reading, March 14. Pass. No violations.

Go Fish, 2934 N. Fifth Street Highway, Reading, March 14. Pass. Observed dust/dirt on floor in harder to reach places between and around equipment. Single-use consumer eating utensils are stored as to allow cross-contamination when retrieved; corrected. Mops are not being hung to air-dry; corrected.

K&L Dairy, 2934 N. Fifth Street Highway, Reading, March 14. Pass. Observed single-service, single-use articles stored in plastic bag directly on the floor, and not 6 inches above the floor; corrected.

Penn Dutch Poultry, 2934 N. Fifth Street Highway, Reading, March 14. Pass. Observed wet-wiping cloths in prep areas not being stored in sanitizer solution; corrected. Food employees observed in prep area not wearing proper hair restraints; corrected.

Spring Glen Fresh Foods, 2910 N. Fifth Street Highway, Reading, March 14. Pass. No violations.

Fleetwood Area School District - Middle School, 407 N. Richmond St., Fleetwood, March 13. Pass. No violations.

Gracie's, 1534 Manatawny Drive, Pine Forge, March 13. Pass. Food facility does not have available chlorine sanitizer test strips or test kit to determine appropriate chlorine sanitizer concentration.

Hereford Elementary School, 1043 Gravel Pike, Hereford, March 13. Pass. No violations.

Leesport Diner, 5407 Pottsville Pike, Leesport, March 13. Fail. Observed wet-wiping cloths at the cooking line not being stored in sanitizer solution; corrected. Observed in-use knives stored between table edges and the wall at the upstairs food preparation area, an area not easily cleaned and sanitized; corrected. Food items observed thawing at room temperature on the floor under shelving in the kitchen food preparation area, which is not an approved thawing method; corrected. Thermometer for ensuring proper temperature of equipment is not available or readily accessible in the large bain-marie unit at the end of the cooking line; corrected. There is an accumulation of dirt, old food debris, and trash on the floor under equipment/shelves in the kitchen. Observed standing water on the floor under the shelving in the basement food storage area. There is food storage and a food preparation table has been added in the basement, however the ceiling in the basement has exposed insulation. The insulation is a source of potential contamination. No sign or poster posted at the hand-wash sink in the kitchen area to remind food employees to wash their hands. Double doors at the stairs leading from the kitchen to the basement of the food facility have a gap at the bottom and do not protect against the entry of pests. The slicer in the basement, a food contact surface, was observed to have dried food residue and was not clean to sight and touch. Corrected. The interior of the ice machine, a food contact surface, was observed to have residue and was not clean to sight and touch. Observed an accumulation of loose dust/dirt on some of the ceiling tiles above the cooking line. Lights are not shielded or shatter proof over the food preparation area in the basement and at one end of the cooking line.