In a recent round of inspections conducted by the Delaware County Health Department, violations were found in several establishments with liquor licenses. Out of the 13 inspections carried out, 12 were found to have violations that needed attention.

One of the establishments with violations was 320 Market Cafe located at 211 W. State St. in Media. Violations at this establishment included a hand washing sink being blocked by a container, the absence of disposable paper towels at the sink, improper labeling of prepackaged food items, and unlabeled food storage containers. Additionally, the can opener was deemed unsanitary and damaged beyond repair.

At Mercato Ristorante & Bar on 4799 West Chester Pike in Newtown Square, violations included spoiled tomatoes stored in the walk-in cooler, an unclean soda machine, horseradish not marked with a use-by date, and seafood thawing at room temperature. Furthermore, linens were found in direct contact with food in the walk-in cooler, and in-use wiping cloths and utensils were not stored properly.

The Wayne Italian American Club on 301 W. Wayne Ave. in Wayne was cited for lacking procedures for addressing vomitus or fecal matter discharge, the absence of handwashing sink signage for food employees, and the non-provision of liquid hand soap at the hand washing sink.

Other establishments that failed the inspections included 333 Belrose Bar & Grill, Anthony's Coal Fired Pizza, Ballroom at Ellis Preserve, Mix-N-Flow Sports Bar & Grill, Pat's Pizzeria, UNO Chicago Grill, 39 North Taproom & Grille, Royal Farms #221, and White Horse Village.

Some common violations found across these establishments included improper sanitization and cleanliness of equipment, improper storage of food items, lack of proper labeling and dating, and pest-related issues. The inspections revealed instances of unsanitary conditions, including the presence of rodent droppings, ants, and fruit flies.

The Delaware County Health Department takes these violations seriously, and most of the issues were promptly resolved on-site, such as discarding contaminated food and cleaning affected areas. Some violations, however, require follow-up visits.

It is important to note that not all entities are required to report the results of food-safety inspections to the public. However, the Delaware County Health Department ensures transparency by presenting the inspection reports without further comment.

While the inspections focused on establishments with liquor licenses, it's worth mentioning that the county conducts numerous inspections across various food-serving locations that do not have liquor licenses. Tinicum Township, for instance, reports its inspections through the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture website.

Fortunately, some establishments received clean bills of health with no violations during the inspections. One such establishment is Secane Station Tavern, located at 611 South Ave. in Upper Darby.

The Daily Times, responsible for reporting these inspections, makes minimal corrections to spelling, capitalization, and punctuation errors in the provided reports.

It is crucial for establishments to prioritize food safety and comply with regulations to ensure the well-being of their patrons. Regular inspections play a significant role in maintaining high standards of hygiene and sanitation in food establishments.