Inspection Report
Carniceria Guasave
3632 W MCDOWELL RD PHOENIX AZ 85009
FD-12959
Food Establishment - Eating & Drinking
Food Routine Inspection
7/20/2026
Not Participating
3
Re-inspection required
Violations
Violation #: 2
Description: Certified Food Protection Manager
Comments:
2-102.12(A) - Core: Certified Food Protection Manager. For a permanent fix to this violation, check out these resources on our website. https://www.maricopa.gov/5114/Food-Restaurants Addl Notes: Observed no certified food protection manager onsite at the time of inspection. Predefined Comment: A Certified Food Protection Manager (CFPM) is required to be on the premises during all hours of operation. Corrective Action: Correct prior to next routine inspection.
Violation #: 21
Description: Proper Hot Holding Temperatures
Comments:
PRIORITY VIOLATION-3-501.16(A)(1) - Priority: Time/Temperature Control for Safety Food, Hot Holding. For a permanent fix to this violation, check out these simple tools in our Active Managerial Control Toolbox, made especially for you. https://www.maricopa.gov/4614/AMC-Toolbox---Hot-Holding.
Addl Notes: Observed cooked pork belly with internal temperature between 110-115F and cooked meat/potato breakfast burritos with internal temperature between 115-121F in the hot case. The person in charge stated the food items had been placed for hot holding between 2.5-3 hours ago. Predefined Comment: Except during preparation, cooking, cooling or when time is used as a control all TCS foods must be maintained at 135°F or above. Predefined Comment: All TCS foods improperly hot held were discarded by PIC at time of inspection. Corrective Action: Corrected at time of inspection.
Violation #: 22
Description: Proper Cold Holding Temperatures
Comments:
PRIORITY VIOLATION-3-501.16(A)(2) and (B) - Priority: Time/Temperature Control for Safety Food, Cold Holding. For a permanent fix to this violation, check out these simple tools in our Active Managerial Control Toolbox, made especially for you.https://www.maricopa.gov/4576/AMC-Toolbox---Cold-Holding.
Addl Notes: Observed TCS food items with internal temperatures between 47-60F in the meat counter display case and the salsa bar prep-cooler. TCS food items in the meat case included queso fresco, dairy creams, ham, packaged pressed chicharron, and hot dogs. TCS food items at the salsa bar included guacamole with cut tomatoes, cooked red/green salsas, and cooked shrimp aguachile ceviche. The person in charge stated all food items had been stored in their respective coolers for cold holding more than 4 hours ago. Predefined Comment: All TCS foods improperly cold held were discarded by PIC at time of inspection. Predefined Comment: Except during preparation, cooking, cooling or when time is used as a control all TCS foods must be maintained at 41°F or below. Eggs not treated to destroy Salmonellae can be stored in equipment that maintains an ambient air temperature of 45°F or below. Corrective Action: Corrected at time of inspection.
Violation #: 23
Description: Proper Date Marking and Disposition
Comments:
3-501.17 - Priority Foundation: Ready-To-Eat Time/Temperature Control for Safety Food, Date Marking. For a permanent fix to this violation, check out these simple tools in our Active Managerial Control Toolbox, made especially for you. https://www.maricopa.gov/4125/Food-SafetyOperator-Resources. Addl Notes: Observed multiple containers of cooked TCS foods with no date marking or date marks from June 2026 in the walk in cooler. TCS foods included cooked salsas/sauces, cooked meats, cooked beans, cooked rice, cooked vegetables, cooked soups/stews. The person in charge stated the containers with no date marks were foods prepared between 1-3 days prior. The person in charge stated date marks from June 2026 were from reused containers and that date marks had not been removed. Predefined Comment: All RTE/TCS foods were properly date marked at the time of inspection. Predefined Comment: RTE/TCS foods requiring date marking must be date marked within 24 hours and sold or discarded after 7 days (including the day it was made as day 1). Corrective Action: Corrected at time of inspection.
Violation #: 29
Description: Compliance with Variance, Specialized Process, Reduced Oxygen Packaging Criteria or HACCP plan
Comments:
PRIORITY VIOLATION-8-103.12 (A) - Priority: Conformance with Approved Procedures; Compliance with HACCP Plan. For a permanent fix to this violation, check out these simple tools in our Active Managerial Control Toolbox, made especially for you. https://www.maricopa.gov/3978/Food-Variances.
Addl Notes: Observed a grill and prep cooler stored outside of the permitted outdoor cooking enclosure. Observed the grill had hot charcoals from recent use and was in an uncovered area of the parking lot area by the front entrance of the establishment. The person in charge stated the grill was used earlier to cook chicken and that it is part of the daily process to cooked steak inside the outdoor cooking enclosure and set up a grill in the parking lot to cook chicken at the same time. Discussed only the use of outdoor cooking as permitted in accordance to outdoor cooking variance. Discussed relocating all food equipment to the designated outdoor cooking enclosure and only cooking in approved area. Corrective Action: Correct prior to re-inspection.
Violation #: 33
Description: Proper Cooling Methods Used; Adequate Equipment for Temperature Control
Comments:
4-301.11 - Priority Foundation: Cooling, Heating, and Holding Capacities-Equipment. For a permanent fix to this violation, check out these simple tools in our Active Managerial Control Toolbox, made especially for you. https://www.maricopa.gov/4617/AMC-Toolbox---Cooling. Addl Notes: Observed salsa bar prep cooler with minimum ambient temperature of 49.8F. Predefined Comment: Cold holding equipment must have the capacity to maintain TCS foods at 41°F or below. Must repair cold holding equipment such that it maintains TCS foods at 41°F or below. Corrective Action: Correct prior to re-inspection.
Comments/Details
Predefined Comment: No County legal action will result from this inspection.
"A" for Food Safety
Through our grading system, Maricopa County Environmental Services Department provides at-a-glance indications of how food establishments perform during food safety inspections. This system is designed to grade food establishments in terms of food safety requirements and provide recognition to those who choose to participate.
How does it work?
The issuance of grade cards to food establishments is based on voluntary participation. The person in charge, who is present during the inspection, will be asked whether they would like to participate in the Grading System. This will be decided prior to each inspection. If an establishment does not participate in the Grading System, Not Participating or NP will appear on the inspection report, and the inspection will still occur. If an establishment does participate, a grade of A, B, C, or D will be determined at the conclusion of the inspection using the Grading System chart below. Participating establishments will then be provided with a grade card that can be posted in the establishment. The status of the establishment’s grade will also appear on the Restaurant Ratings page of the department’s website.
How can I determine the grade?
The Grading System chart can be used to determine grades earned for establishments that do not participate. Grades are determined by the number of Priority and Priority Foundation violations received at the time of inspection. Violation types are defined in general terms below.
Definitions
- Priority Violation
- Major violation that directly contributes to increasing the risk of foodborne illness or injury (e.g. Food employees do not properly wash hands when required).
- Priority Foundation Violation
- Minor violation that does not directly contribute to an increased risk of foodborne illness but failure to correct this violation may lead to the occurrence of a priority violation. For example, hand washing soap and paper towels not available at hand wash sink (may lead directly to food employees not properly washing hands when required).
- Core Violation
- Minor violation that relates to general maintenance and sanitation (e.g. No sign reminding employees to wash hands).
- Cutting Edge Program
- All county food-related establishments can partner with Maricopa County to implement a proactive approach to reducing foodborne illness risk factors by implementing food safety systems that include policies, training, and verification processes. Partners enrolled in the Cutting Edge Program receive an A+ when an A is earned.
| Violation Category | Grade A | Grade B | Grade B | Grade B | Grade B | Grade B | Grade B | Grade B | Grade C | Grade C | Grade C | Grade C | Grade C | Grade C | Grade D | Grade D |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Priority | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | more than 2 | more than 3 |
| Priority Foundation | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 2 | more than 3 | more than 0 |
Any legal action for a pattern of non-compliance or permit suspension results in a D.