Casa Alvarez cited for food code violations

    The state has fined local restaurant Casa Alvarez $800 for several food code violations that were discovered earlier this year, the Kansas Department of Health and Environment announced Thursday.
    A KDHE agent conducted a routine inspection of the restaurant, 1701 W. Wyatt Earp, on Feb. 5 and noted 11 food code violations, including:
    • The restaurant license holder failed to demonstrate knowledge of the food code, way to prevent foodborne illnesses or how to apply hazardous analysis critical control point principles.
    • An employee failed to wash their hands when switching between working with raw food and working with ready-to-eat food.
    • An employee's bare hands came into contact with ready-to-eat food.
    • The restaurant failed to store potentially hazardous foods at a cold enough temperature.
    • Failure to clean equipment and utensil surfaces to the sight and touch.
    • Failure to sanitize utensils and equipment before use and after cleaning.
    A KDHE agent inspected the restaurant again on Feb. 25 and documented two repeat violations: Employees failed to wash their hands when switching between working with raw food and ready-to-eat food, and the restaurant failed to store potentially hazardous food at sufficiently cold temperatures.
    The $800 fine applies only to the violations discovered during the Feb. 25 inspection, according to the order.
    KDHE spokesman Mike Heideman said the food code is designed to protect people from foodborne illnesses, and KDHE enforces the code by looking for repeated violations.
    "If we see a particular issue that continues to reoccur, it's at that point that we'll take an action like this," he said.
    He said the agency's goal is to work with restaurants that have been cited for food code violations so they can correct the problem.
    KHDE issued the order imposing the fine on March 26, and Casa Alvarez's owners had 20 days after receiving the notice to request a hearing.
    Casa Alvarez manager Edgar Alvarez, whose parents own the restaurant, said the family have corrected the problems and paid the fine.
    "That was a long time ago," he said. "Everything's good now."
   
Reach Eric Swanson at (620) 408-9917 or e-mail him at eric.swanson@dodgeglobe.com.