UPDATE: Recent food service inspections in Santa Fe, New Mexico, from October 13 to 17, reveal alarming violations at several establishments, prompting immediate concern for public health. The New Mexico Environment Department has reported multiple infractions, some of which require urgent corrective actions.
Among the most significant findings, Santa Fe Bite, located at 1616 St. Michael’s Drive, was cited on October 14 for a staggering number of violations, including an employee handling food without gloves, improper thawing of chicken, and a dirty dishwasher. Serious issues were noted, such as a hole in the wall, mold behind the dish machine, and a broken slicer. The establishment now faces reinspection within three business days to address these critical health risks.
On the same day, Yamas Greek Rotisserie at 2411 Cerrillos Road was cited for having a personal drink in a cooler with ready-to-eat foods and missing internal thermometers in several coolers. The lack of sanitizer in the food preparation area raised additional alarms.
The following day, The Wrap Santa Fe at 113 E. Water St. Unit 102 faced numerous citations for improper food storage, including no date markings in the refrigerator and a dirty ice machine. These violations highlight ongoing concerns about food safety in the region.
In a more positive note, establishments such as Tortilla Flats Catering and Crave (SITE Santa Fe) reported no violations during this inspection period, indicating some compliance with health standards.
However, the situation worsened for Salazar Elementary School and Santa Fe Preparatory School, both cited on October 16. Salazar was flagged for food stored on the floor of the walk-in cooler, while Preparatory School faced multiple issues, including pests and inadequate sanitation practices.
The situation continued to deteriorate with Jaripeo Grill and Beer and Santa Fe Capitol Grill, both inspected on October 17, which received numerous citations for lack of soap at hand-wash sinks and improper food storage practices. Jaripeo Grill’s violations included employees cooking without gloves and an unlabeled bulk food container, necessitating urgent corrective measures.
Lastly, both Walmart grocery and Walmart meat market, also inspected on October 17, faced similar issues with sanitation, including no sanitizer made up at the time of inspection and ice buildup on refrigeration units.
Authorities emphasize that violations of the New Mexico Food Code are often corrected onsite, but the persistent nature of these issues raises serious concerns about food safety in Santa Fe.
Next steps: All establishments cited must respond with a corrective action plan and will undergo reinspection to ensure compliance. The community is urged to stay informed about food safety standards and to report any concerns to health officials.
Stay tuned for more updates on this developing story. The health and safety of the community depend on strict adherence to food safety regulations.
