Restaurant Inspections: Subway and Zinga

During the past few weeks, the state health department inspected a few restaurants in the Greater Alexandria area. For prior restaurant inspection reports, click here.

In Virginia, restaurant inspection reports aren't quite as simple as getting a letter grade or an easy-to-see number rating to post in the front window.

That said, we all want to know how our favorite restaurants stack up on cleanliness and sanitation. Inspectors grade restaurants based on critical and non-critical violations.

A "critical violation" is one that "poses a direct or immediate threat to the safety of the food being served." Non-critical violations are generally related to cleaning or maintenance.

"Ideally, an operation would have no critical violations, or none which are not corrected immediately and not repeated. In our experience, it is unrealistic to expect that a complex, full-service food operation can routinely avoid any violations," according to Virginia Department of Health's website.

The site continues: "Keep in mind that any inspection report is a 'snapshot' of the day and time of the inspection. On any given day, a restaurant could have fewer or more violations than noted in the report. An inspection conducted on any given day may not be representative of the overall, long-term cleanliness of an establishment."

Below, find the latest restaurant inspection from the Virginia Department of Health. These inspections reflect visits from inspectors during the last few weeks. Some of the violations were corrected immediately during the recent inspections.

The full reports can be accessed on the health department's website.

Subway
8768 Richmond Hwy
Date of inspection: Oct. 17
Critical (corrected during inspection): When tested, the quaternary ammonium compound-based sanitizing solution was observed to be at a concentration less than what is required for effective sanitization of food-contact surfaces of equipment and utensils. Observed the sanitizing solution in the 3-vat with a concentration of 100 ppm total quaternary ammonium compound. Observed sanitizer bottle was empty.
Critical (corrected during inspection): The following food item(s) were observed cold holding at improper temperatures using a calibrated food temperature measuring device: deli turkey (46F), American cheese (45F), sliced tomato (44F) in walk-in cooler. Temperature was elevated due to restaurant's air conditioning being out. Maintenance was fixing the problem. Extended door open of the walk-in cooler elevated food temperature. However, manager said cooler's temperature was 38F.
Non-critical (corrected during inspection): Observed that sign or poster that notifies food employees to wash their hands is not provided at all hand washing sinks used by food employees: hand sink at customer serving area, 2 bathrooms.

Zinga Frozen Yogurt
6676 Richmond Hwy
Date of inspection: Oct. 17
Non-critical: Absence of no-smoking signs or international no-smoking signs in non-smoking area.