CHILLICOTHE, Ohio — Two Chillicothe assisted living communities, Traditions of Chillicothe and Traditions of Hopeton Village, were recently cited for food safety violations during inspections conducted on February 8th by the Ross County Health District.
Traditions of Chillicothe:
• Critical Violation: Inspectors observed an accumulation of debris on the ice machine baffle, which directly contacts the ice used for food preparation. This violation poses a significant health risk as it can contaminate food and beverages. The issue was corrected during the inspection by the person in charge (PIC) cleaning the baffle.
• Critical Violation: Food contact surfaces of can openers were found to be unclean with accumulated debris. This could also lead to food contamination. Again, the PIC addressed the issue immediately by cleaning the can openers.
Traditions of Hopeton Village:
• Critical Violation: Similar to the other location, a can opener displayed an accumulation of debris on its food contact surface. The PIC rectified the issue by placing it in the dishwasher for proper cleaning.
• Non-Critical Violation: Inspectors observed a buildup of debris on the shelving in the walk-in cooler. While not deemed an immediate risk, it’s important to maintain clean storage areas to prevent potential contamination in the future.
Community Health and Public Safety:
The Ross County Health District conducts regular inspections of food establishments to ensure they adhere to safety regulations and protect consumers from foodborne illnesses. While none of the violations observed were deemed major enough for immediate closure, they highlight the importance of consistent hygiene practices in food preparation environments.
Officials said both facilities immediately addressed the critical violations during the inspection.
