Wendy’s

1117 HARRISBURG AVE
LANCASTER, PA 17603

The Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture’s Bureau of Food Safety and Laboratory Services conducted an unannounced retail food inspection on 6/18/2020. As a result of that inspection, and due to the severity of the specific violations Wendy’s was cited as being, “Out of Compliance” with Pennsylvania’s food safety regulations. During this inspection a total of 11 violations were found.

The restaurant has now failed to be “In Compliance” for each of the last three annual inspections according to Department of Agriculture records:

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.
• Observed an extreme amount of gnats throughout the facility, on walls, beneath flat grills, in drains, in restrooms, and on equipment.
• Observed a slimy residue beneath the lemonade machine and where the cup sits on the machine.
• Old food splatter inside the microwave in the back. Observed a mildew and old food residue on the shelf in the walk-in cooler for thawing items.
• Observed old grease and build-up on these areas: behind the fryers, between the fryer and flat grill, and on the floor behind the fryers.
• Observed a gross amount of trash, food debris, water, and gnats beneath the flat grill on the same side as the drive-through window. Observed trash and food debris in these areas: behind the soda machine, 3 trays of cooked bacon and debris on the floor behind the stove, food and trash beneath the two Turbo-air freezers, trash and black slime and gnats in both drains under the 3 compartment sink.
• Clean food equipment in the dish washing area on a rack, stored wet in a manner that does not allow for draining and/or air drying (wet nesting*).
• Observed a green scouring pad in the hand-wash sink in the back.
• The sliding door of the outside dumpster was left open at the time of this inspection.
• A working bottle of cleaner stored on top of food equipment in the front food processing area. Observed a bottle of graffiti remover stored above the bank of sodas and soda lines across. Observed a bottle of degreaser stored on the table with food equipment in the back. Observed a bottle of sanitizer stored with single-service straws under the cabinet in the customer area.
• Observed food residue in metal food containers stored on the clean equipment rack.
• Soap was not available at the hand-wash sink in the front area.
• Paper towel dispenser empty at the hand-wash sinks in the front and the back food processing area.

*Wet nesting refers to the practice of placing two recently-washed items together in a nested fashion, preventing proper airflow. In a moist, dark, low-air environment, unseen bacteria grows unchecked, and suddenly that mixing bowl is a biological incident waiting to happen. Even at high temperatures, the food or ingredients you place on that wet-nested kitchen equipment can act as an accidental insulator, or even as fuel for further bacterial growth.