Restaurant Inspections: Mama Mia Pizza and McDonald's

From Oct. 9-23, quite a few restaurants in the Kingstowne and Rose Hill areas were inspected. 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.

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Mama Mia Pizza
6112 Rose Hill Dr
Date of inspection: Oct. 23
Critical (corrected during inspection): Observed that poisonous and toxic materials are not properly stored to prevent the contamination of food, equipment, utensils, linens or single service items.
Non-critical (corrected during inspection): Pizza roller and can opener were observed soiled to sight and touch.

McDonald’s
6020 Rose Hill Dr
Date of inspection: Oct. 23
Critical (corrected during inspection): A food employee failed to wash his hands when entering from outside into food prep area and moving food in walk-in cooler.
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 wiping cloth bucket with a concentration of 100 ppm total quaternary ammonium compound.
Critical (corrected during inspection): Pesticides labeled for residential use were observed in the facility and are being applied by the operator to control pests. Manager discarded them.
Critical (corrected during inspection): Observed that poisonous and toxic materials are not properly stored to prevent the contamination of food, equipment, utensils, linens or single service items.

Pho Kim Restaurant
6050C Rosehill Dr
Date of inspection: Oct. 23
Critical (corrected during inspection): One or more of the elements of an effective employee health policy is either missing or incomplete. A complete employee health policy is required to be in place at the food establishment.

Four Seasons Cafe
5960 Kingstowne Town Center
Date of inspection: Oct. 22
Critical (corrected during inspection): One or more of the elements of an effective employee health policy is either missing or incomplete. A complete employee health policy is required to be in place at the food establishment.
Critical (corrected during inspection): Food items from damaged packaging were found offered for sale or service.
Critical (corrected during inspection): Different types of raw animal foods stored in such a manner that may cause cross contamination.
Critical (corrected during inspection): When tested, the chlorine-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.
Non-critical (corrected during inspection): The establishment has not posted the permit to operate in a conspicuous location.