March 19 to April 2, restaurant and food handler inspections took place throughout Lancaster County, and the results have finally been released.

The Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture uses a reporting process for all food handlers called “risk-based.” The main goal of a risk-based inspection is to assess the amount of regulation an operator has over foodborne illness risks. This form of assessment is a new philosophy emerging in the health inspection field. The goal of risk-based assessment is to prevent health violations, both before and during the occurrence, to lower the possibility of consumer harm.

The following local businesses passed with no violations:

• Giant Food No. 6014, 1278 S. Market St., Elizabethtown
• Papa John’s, 250 S. Cherry Alley, Elizabethtown
• Five Guys Burgers and Fries, 1962 Fruitville Pike, Lancaster
• Hoss’s Steak & Sea House No. 37, 840 N. Hanover St., Elizabethtown

The following local businesses did receive violations:

• End Zone Sports Bar II, 45 W. High St., Elizabethtown (Fryer cover is being stored on the floor)
• Fiesta Burrito Bar, 773 E. Main St., Mount Joy (No sneezeguard)
• Groff’s Meats, 33 N. Market St., Elizabethtown (Rails and door frames have rust where food preparation and storage is done)
• Olive Garden Italian Restaurant, 910 Plaza Blvd., Park City Mall (Knives not cleaned between uses, moldy boxes in freezer, dirty food preparation surfaces and a littered smoking area from employees)
• Loyal Order of Moose Lodges 596, 18 N. Market St., Elizabethtown (No sign stating “employees must wash hands before returning to work,” storing clean trays on the floor, rusty shelves and old food residue at the cook line)
• Turkey Hill Mini Market No. 33, 549 S. Market St., Elizabethtown (No sign stating “employees must wash hands before returning to work,” broken food thermometers and unauthorized people in the food preparation area)

Many failures among restaurants and food handlers occur due to lack of small things, such as no hair net or lack of a sneeze guard. Elizabethtown College Dining Services was last inspected May 9, 2011 and received four violations. These included:

• 5 pints of milk being offered for sale past expiration date.
• Light bulbs at pizza display unit were delaminating.
• Exhaust hood at Jay’s Nest dishwasher had dust accumulation.
• Wall near panini units in Marketplace was damaged and not easily cleanable.

The Bird Feeder and concession stands received no violations.

Keep up-to-date on the latest inspections at the Pa. Department of Agriculture website.