Springfield-Greene County Health Department food inspectors found mouse feces under a soda machine in an Ozarks kitchen this week.
The E-Plex Concessions East kitchen at Ozark Empire Fairground, 3001 N. Grant Ave., had no priority violations during its Aug. 21 routine inspection, but inspectors did find mouse feces underneath the soda machine, according to the report.
Issues found during inspections fall into either priority or non-priority violations. Priority violations impact the safety of the food, such as cross-contamination between raw and ready-to-eat food, improper food temperature and poor personal hygiene and employee health. Multiple priority violations can lead to an establishment being shut down. Non-priority violations alone do not
directly affect food safety, such as dirty floors, sticky tabletops or outside trash cans not being covered.
Food inspections take place one to three times a year, depending on the type of food served, the population served, difficulty of food preparation and past history. Restaurants preparing food from raw ingredients are inspected more often "than convenience stores that serve only non-potentially hazardous foods, such as popcorn and soda," according to the Springfield-Greene County Health Department.
Each report identifies what was happening at the establishment at that time. Consumers who want to know whether a violation is a one-time thing or a pattern are encouraged to refer to previous reports.
Here are food inspections from the past week:
Black Sheep @ Chesterfield Village, 2160 W. Chesterfield Blvd., Springfield. Aug. 24 routine inspection – Result: active. No priority violations. Two non-priority violations: Observed cracked floor tiles in dish pit area, education given; observed several heavily scored cutting boards, education given.
Bobalicious & Bakery, 2926 S. Campbell Ave., Springfield. Aug. 25 routine inspection – Result: active. Two priority violations: Observed no date on ready-to-eat, potentially hazardous food items, which was corrected on site and education given; observed bleach sanitizer bucket at 10 parts per million, which was corrected on site and education given. No non-priority violations.
Braum's Ice Cream No. 274, 604 N. Glenstone Ave., Springfield. Aug. 24 routine inspection – Result: active. No priority violations. One non-priority violation: Observed potentially hazardous food items on time control without time marking in the top prep cooler, which was corrected on site by discarding the affected items and properly marking restocked items for time control and education given.
Cabos Bonitos Grill & Cantina LLC, 3637 E. Sunshine St., Springfield. Aug. 24 routine – Result: active. No violations cited.
Casey's General Store No. 3011, 2805 N. Kansas Expressway, Springfield. Aug. 20 routine inspection – Result: active. One priority violation: Observed four packages of allergy medications with expiration date of July 2026 and one package of pain reliever with expiration date of January 2026 for sale, which was corrected on site by pulling items out to be discarded. No non-priority violations.
Chick-Fil-A Battlefield Mall, 2825 S. Glenstone Ave., Springfield. Aug. 19 routine inspection – Result: active.
Cici's Pizza, 319 E. Battlefield Road, Springfield. Aug. 19 routine inspection – Result: active. No violations cited.
Cleanplate, 940 S. Glenstone Ave., Springfield. Aug. 22 routine inspection. One priority violation: Observed main generator not providing power to mobile food establishment, food operations ceased to preserve cooler temperatures below 41 degrees Fahrenheit. Three non-priority violations: Observed two small dead cockroaches in the freezer; observed hand sink with container of clean utensils and uncut onion stored in sink basin, which was corrected on site and education given; observed time control being used for shredded cheese and shredded lettuce with no time documented for food items.
Club Rodeo, 2032 W. Bennett St., Springfield. Aug. 25 routine inspection – Result: active. No priority violations. One non-priority violation: Observed daylight along bottom of both exterior doors.
Denny's, 4760 S. Campbell Ave., Springfield. Aug. 24 routine inspection – Result: active. No priority violations. Two non-priority violations: Observed women's restroom door does not fully close, which is a repeat violation and education given; observed boxes of food stored on floor of walk-in freezer, education given.
Everyday Thai LLC, 220 W. Battlefield Road, Springfield. Aug. 20 routine inspection – Result: active. No priority violations. One non-priority violation: Observed gap on exterior back door, education given.
Flaming Wok, 711 W. Kearney St., Springfield. Aug. 25 routine inspection – Result: active. One priority violation: Observed sanitizer tested absent in the sanitizer bucket, which was corrected on site and education given. Two non-priority violations: Observed hot water not available at hand sink upon arrival, which was corrected on site and education given; observed constant leak at employee hand sink faucet, education given.
Grain and Agave LLC, 3631 E. Sunshine St., Springfield. Aug. 19 routine inspection – Result: active. No violations cited.
Habaneros Mexican Cantina, 4406 S. Campbell Ave., Springfield. Aug. 24 routine inspection – Result: active. One priority violation: Observed employee's open drinks stored in food prep area, which was corrected on site and education given. No non-priority violations.
Imo's Pizza, 636 W. Republic Road, Springfield. Aug. 25 routine inspection – Result: permitted with re-inspection. One priority violation: Observed potentially hazardous food items held above 41 degrees in salad line cold-holding unit, items were voluntarily discarded and education given, re-inspection date set. Three non-priority violations: Observed missing thermometer from salad line cold-holding unit, education given; observed debris buildup in walk-in cooler on ceiling and fan grate, education given; observed employee doing food prep without beard net, education given.
Jimmy's Egg, 3837 S. Campbell Ave., Springfield. Aug. 24 routine inspection – Result: active. One priority violation: Observed potentially hazardous food item seen above 41 degrees without logged discard time, which was corrected on site and education given. No non-priority violations.
La Boba Cafe, 1601 W. Sunshine St., Springfield. Aug. 26 routine inspection – Result: active. One priority violation: Observed two containers of black milk tea without date labeling, which was voluntarily discarded and education given. Four non-priority violations: Observed no paper towel dispenser at front counter hand-washing sink; observed no chlorine sanitizer test strips, which is a repeat violation and education given; observed ice machine not clean on inside toward top; observed sanitizer wiping cloths stored outside of sanitizer buckets.
Leslie's Mexican Supermarket - Restaurant, 216 S. Glenstone Ave., Springfield. Aug. 20 routine inspection – Result: active. Four priority violations: Observed employee switching between preparing order and cleaning counter without changing gloves or washing hands, which was corrected on site by removing gloves and washing hands before donning new gloves, education given; observed masa dough stored in non-food-grade bags in cooler, which was a repeat violation and product was transferred to appropriate containers during inspection, education given; observed bottled drinks stored in ice in ice machine, which was corrected on site and education given; observed several potentially hazardous foods in reach-in cooler older than 24 hours not date labeled, which was corrected on site and education given. No non-priority violations.
Ozark Empire Fairground - E-Plex Concessions East, 3001 N. Grant Ave., Springfield. Aug. 21 routine inspection – Result: active. No priority violations. Two non-priority violations: Observed mouse feces found underneath soda machine; observed interior lid of deep freezer in disrepair, education given.
Ozark Empire Fairground - E Plex Concessions Kitchen, 3001 N. Grant Ave., Springfield. Aug. 21 routine inspection – Result: active. Two priority violations: Observed container of potentially hazardous food product without date marking, which was corrected on site and education given; observed potentially hazardous food product found with temperature above 41 degrees, which was voluntarily discarded and education given. One non-priority violation: Observed paint chipping on wall behind three-vat sink, education given.
Ozark Empire Fairground - E Plex Concessions West, 3001 N. Grant Ave., Springfield. Aug. 21 routine inspection – Result: active. No priority violations. One non-priority violation: Observed back exterior door with daylight along sides.
Ozark Empire Fairground - Maui Wowi 2, 3001 N. Grant Ave., Springfield. Aug. 21 routine inspection – Result: active. No violations cited.
Ozark Empire Fairground - Motorway Cafe, 3001 N. Grant Ave., Springfield. Aug. 21 routine inspection – Result: active. Three priority violations: Observed two coolers in the kitchen area not holding a temperature of 41 degrees or below, all recently prepared food moved to functioning cooler and education given; observed food product under time control did not have proper labeling and education given; observed sanitizer in buckets tested below the required parts per million, education given. No non-priority violations.
Ozark Empire Fairground - Triple S Properties Bar & Grill - Concession Stands, 3001 N. Grant Ave., Springfield. Aug. 21 routine inspection – Result: active. Three priority violations: Observed containers of potentially hazardous food product stored beyond discard date, which was discarded and education given; observed bucket of pickles requiring refrigeration sitting out at room temperature and was above 41 degrees, which was voluntarily discarded and education given; observed spatula stored with chipping and cracking, which was corrected on site and education given. No non-priority violations.
Palm & Paddle Grille, 2515 S. Campbell Ave., Springfield. Aug. 24 routine inspection – Result: active. No violations observed.
Panera Bread, 2641 E. Sunshine St., Springfield. Aug. 25 routine inspection – Result: active. No violations cited.
Panera Bread, 2535 N. Kansas Expressway, Springfield. Aug. 20 routine inspection – Result: active. No violations observed during inspection.
Popeye's No. 775 - HZ Ops Holdings Inc., 1710 S. Glenstone Ave., Springfield. Aug. 25 routine inspection – Result: active. No priority violations. One non-priority violation: Observed chicken thawing at room temperature, which was corrected on site by moving product to sink under running water.
Prime - Campus Cafe, 2610 N. Glenstone Ave., Springfield. Aug. 24 routine inspection – Result: active. No priority violations. One non-priority violation: Observed dishes stacked prior to proper air drying, education given.
Rebar Taproom, 2902 S. Campbell Ave., Springfield. Aug. 21 re-inspection – Result: active. Priority item corrected.
S & L Donuts, 1011 S. Glenstone Ave., Springfield. Aug. 20 routine inspection – Result: active. No violations cited.
Schultz & Dooley's, 2210 W. Chesterfield Blvd., Springfield. Aug. 24 routine inspection – Result: active. Two priority violations: Observed dish machine reading below 0 ppm chlorine bleach sanitizer, education given and re-inspection required; observed substantial cracks on prep table cutting board, education given. One non-priority violation: Observed inside of prep cooler producing large amounts of water pooling at the bottom, which is a repeat violation and education given.
Southbound Bar & Grill, 5739 S. Campbell Ave., Springfield. Aug. 20 re-inspection – Result: active. Priority item corrected.
The Chop Shop Burger, 1535 E. Battlefield Road, Springfield. Aug. 20 re-inspection – Result: active.
The Riksha, 222 Park Central North, Springfield. Aug. 24 routine inspection – Result: active. No violations observed during inspection.
Valencia 1980 (Habaneros), 2530 S. State Highway MM, Republic. Aug. 24 routine inspection – Result: active. No priority violations. Two non-priority violations: Observed fly paper hanging over prep table and clean stock pots, which was corrected on site by relocating devices away from prep table and spots; observed serve station hand-washing sink had trays sitting in basin, which was corrected on site.
Waffle House No. 448, 3135 N. Glenstone Ave., Springfield. Aug. 24 routine inspection – Result: active. No violations cited.
Walmart Fuel Station No. 444, 3245 S. Campbell Ave., Springfield. Aug. 25 routine inspection – Result: active. No violations cited.
Wendy's No. 25, 2125 E. Independence St., Springfield. Aug. 25 routine inspection – Result: active. No violations observed.
Susan Szuch writes about health as well as local food and drink for the Springfield News-Leader. Follow her on X at @szuchsm. Story idea? Email her at sszuch@usatodayco.com.
This article originally appeared on Springfield News-Leader: Health inspector finds mouse poop under soda machine in Ozarks kitchen
