Unless otherwise noted, the food service establishment has “approved” status from the New Mexico Environment Department. Violations of the New Mexico Food Code are often corrected on-site during an inspection. Some require a reinspection within three business days. Others require a corrective action response outlining the establishment’s plan to address the violation and how long the corrective measure will take.
Annual inspections
BODY of Santa Fe, 333 W. Cordova Road, Sept. 8: No violations.
Capital High School, 4851 Paseo Del Sol, Sept. 8: No violations.
Early College Opportunities, 2301 W. Zia Road, Sept. 8: No violations.
La Cocina de Doña Clara, 4350 Airport Road, Sept. 8: Cited for some expired food handler cards; a screw-top beverage with no straw in use; a dirty can-opener blade and ice scoop; mineral buildup growing bacteria in the ice machine; no sanitizer in the dish machine; ice pooling on and dropping in food boxes in the chest freezer; cold food in the temperature danger zone; no date labels on food; storing poisonous or toxic materials alongside cleaning and sanitizing chemicals; improper cooling of food; improper thawing of frozen food; storing knives in between equipment; grease absorbing into a wood shelf particle board and cinder and wood blocks holding up equipment; sinks not being sealed to the wall; an unapproved microwave, crock pot and refrigerator; the refrigerator not maintaining 41 degrees; broken equipment; heavy carbon buildup on stovetop grates, mold growing on particle board wrapped in plastic wrap being used as a tabletop and grease buildup on shelving next to the stove; no records for the maintenance of water filters and back-flow prevention devices; a non-self-closing door in the restroom; toilet paper not being stored in a sanitary dispenser; no covered receptacle for menstrual products; missing paint from the top of chest freezers, a degraded sheet of metal next to the stove; a hole in the wall; grease buildup on the concrete outside the doorway; unshielded lightbulbs in the refrigerator and dry storage area; a dirty vent next to the exhaust hood and lint buildup on vents and fan-guards in the kitchen area and refrigeration units. Reinspection required.
Natural Grocers, 1090 S. St. Francis Drive, Sept. 8: Cited for having no hand-washing signage; ice pooling on and dropping in food boxes in the freezer; black mold growth on the water machine; sinks not being sealed to the wall; no covered receptacle for menstrual products; the drain line for the three-bin sink/ice machine sitting inside the floor sink with no 1-inch air gap; food on the pre-rinse sprayer nozzle; chipped paint on the nut grinder and dust and debris buildup on refrigerators throughout the facility. Corrective action response required.
Sweeney Elementary School, 501 Airport Road, Sept. 8: No violations.
Chaparral Elementary School, 2451 Avenida Chaparral, Sept. 9: Cited for cleaning needed high and low.
Piñon Elementary School, 2921 Camino de Los Caballos, Sept. 9: No violations.
Ramirez Thomas Elementary School, 3200 Calle Po Ae Pi, Sept. 9: Cited for no date-markings on some containers in coolers; no internal temperature device in coolers; unlabeled food storage containers; condensation on the floor of the walk-in freezer; no sanitation buckets; cleaning needed high and low.
Santa Fe High School, 2100 Yucca St., Sept. 9: No violations.
Sweeney Head Start, 501 Airport Road, Sept. 9: Cited for food without date markings; unlabeled food containers; no shielding on lights in the kitchen and dry storage area; no 1-inch air gap on the three-bin sink and dish machine; holes in the wall; peeling paint/crumbling tape/bubbling texture at the three-bin sink faucet; improper use of gloves; open dumpster lids; unnecessary items around the dumpster.
Carlos Gilbert Elementary School, 300 Griffin St., Sept. 10: No violations.
Kearny Elementary School, 901 Avenida Las Campanas, Sept. 10: Cited for storing paper towels on top of the dispenser; holes in walls and ceilings; peeling paint and exposed sheetrock; two sinks not being sealed to the wall; a broken light shield in the dry storage area; damaged ceiling tiles throughout the facility; broken tiles; no base-coving on floors next to the mop sink; an inadequately sealed outer back door; grease accumulation on a bolt above a mixing bowl; a dirty can-opener blade; storing clean utensils in an unclean area; dirty fan-guards in the walk-in refrigerator; unlabeled food containers; no date markings on food containers in the walk-in fridge; open dumpster lids.
Oppies, 109 E. Palace Ave., Sept. 10: No violations.
Ortiz Middle School, 4164 S. Meadows Road, Sept. 10: No violations.
Second Street Brewery at the Railyard, 1607 Paseo de Peralta, Sept. 10: Cited for a burnt-out lightbulb under the hood.
Savvor Kitchen, various locations, Sept. 10: Cited for no employee hair restraints.
Shake Foundation, 631 Cerrillos Road, Sept. 10: Cited for particle accumulation on the wall below the preparation sink.
Complaint inspections
Sam's Club Cafe, 4201 Rodeo Road, Sept. 8: Cited for cleaning needed high and low.
Betterday Coffee, 905 W. Alameda St., Sept. 9: Cited for no employee hair restraints; no 1-inch air gap on the drain line in the coffee area; old food debris behind, under and on the sides of equipment and on floors; holes in ceilings. Reinspection required.
Inn and Spa at Loretto, 211 Old Santa Fe Trail, Sept. 11: Cited for storing clean utensils in an unclean container; a dirty hand-wash sink; no base-coving on floors in the banquet wait station/room; crumbling plaster; excess dust buildup and debris on walls and ceiling air vents; an employee cooking without gloves; deep cuts and stains on cutting boards; a dirty salamander; exposed sheetrock on wall bull noses; open doors with no screens; mouse droppings present throughout the facility; debris under and behind the three-door refrigerator; exposed absorbent styrofoam on the lowboy refrigerator door; open food containers in the downstairs dry storage area; holes in the walls and ceiling; exposed, absorbent concrete flooring in the downstairs dry storage area; unfinished walls/ceiling in the downstairs dry storage area; food residue on the floor in the downstairs dry storage area; unshielded liquid waste pipes; four drain lines sitting inside the floor sink with no 1-inch air gap; ice in the hand-wash sink; no paper towels available at hand-wash sinks; a dusty air vent above a hand-wash sink; a missing or broken light shield in the main wait station; sinks not being sealed to the wall; a dirty meat slicer; dirty fan-guards in the walk-in freezer; grease accumulation on a bolt above a mixing bowl; no lids on bulk food storage bins; storing a cup in bulk product; food on the floor in the walk-in freezer; an unshielded condensation line in the walk-in freezer; an employee eating in the kitchen while cooking. Establishment plans to close for a remodel Oct. 31, according to the inspection.
Lily Alexander is a state accountability reporter for The New Mexican and Searchlight New Mexico, focusing on equity and transparency. Her position is part of the New Mexican Public Service Journalism Fund, and her stories are available to all readers without a paywall.
