By: Don Shaw email: don.shaw@pennsylvaniachronicle.com 

Lancaster, PA

Asian Center Supermarket

2060 BENNETT AVE
Lancaster, PA 17601
717-826-9925

The Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture’s Bureau of Food Safety and Laboratory Services conducted an unannounced retail food inspection on 8/28/2020. As a result of that inspection, and due to the severity of the specific violations the Asian Center Supermarket was cited as being, “Out of Compliance” with Pennsylvania’s food safety regulations. During this inspection a total of 14 violations were found.

The inspector made the following comments in support of the violations found during the inspection:

• The Person in Charge does not have adequate knowledge of food safety in this food facility as evidenced by this non-compliant inspection.
• Raw shell eggs stored above bottled drinks in the walk-in cooler.
• Observed raw shell eggs stored above cooked eggs in the customer self-service case.
• Observed raw chicken stored above pork in the display counter.
• Prepackaged vegetables, fruit, dried fruits, and assorted meats and fish are not labeled properly with the name of product, ingredient statement, net weight, and distributed by statement.
• Observed 30 water-stained ceiling tiles in the customer area.
• Shellstock (large and small clams and oysters) located in the display case did not have identification tags attached to the container.
• The chlorine concentration in the sanitizing solution in the sanitizer bucket was in excess of 400ppm, rather than 50-100 ppm as required.
• Observed a brown, residue build-up on the floor and beneath shelves of the meat walk-in cooler.
• The faucet of the hand-wash sink leaks and cannot be turned off.
• An insect control device (fly strips) located in the seafood, meat, and warehouse with potential to contaminate food, equipment, and / or utensils.
• Two doors located in the warehouse of the food facility has a gap and does not protect against the entry of insects, rodents, and other animals.
• Observed webbing and dead insects in the corners and ceiling area of the warehouse.
• WAREHOUSE – observed a bottle of industrial cleaner stored above opened boxes of ginger. Observed a can of turpentine stored above single-service to-go containers.
• Observed wet wiping cloths in seafood, meat department, not being stored in sanitizer solution.
• Food Employee is not using available sanitizer test strips or test kit to determine sanitizer concentration.