Inspection Report
Holiday Inn Express
1405 S WESTWOOD MESA AZ 85210
FD-23-01185
Food Establishment - Eating & Drinking
Food Routine Inspection
11/21/2025
Not Participating
4
Completed
Violations
Violation #: 1
Description: Person in Charge Present, Demonstrates Knowledge, and Performs Duties
Comments:
2-102.11(A-B) and (C)(1), (4)-(16) - Priority Foundation: Demonstration; Demonstration of Knowledge Addl Notes: PIC is not a certified food protection manager (CFPM) and was unable to answer questions relating to TCS food holding temperatures, warewashing, and food separation. Obtain certification from an accredited agency before the next routine inspection. Provided link to ANSI accredited programs to the manager. A person-in-charge is required onsite at all times, must demonstrate adequate knowledge, and perform all duties as required. Corrective Action: Correct prior to next routine inspection.
Violation #: 2
Repeat Violation
Description: Certified Food Protection Manager
Comments:
*Third consecutive repeat violation*
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: No CFPM onsite at the time of inspection. PIC stated they are unsure if any employee has a CFPM. 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 #: 10
Description: Adequate Handwashing Sinks, Properly Supplied and Accessible
Comments:
6-301.12 - Priority Foundation: Hand Drying Provision. 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/4573/AMC-Toolbox: Handwashing. Addl Notes: No paper towels at the hand sink in the kitchen. Handwash sinks must be supplied with hot water of at least 100°F, soap and an approved hand drying provision at all times. Facilities must be maintained in a condition that promotes handwashing. PIC provided hand drying provision for handwash sink at time of inspection. Corrective Action: Corrected at time of inspection.
Violation #: 15
Description: Food Separated and Protected
Comments:
PRIORITY VIOLATION-3-302.11 (A1-2) - Priority: Packaged and Unpackaged Food-Separation, Packaging, and Segregation; Protection from Cross Contamination. 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/4621/AMC-Toolbox---Cross-Contamination.
Addl Notes: Observed opened boxes of raw bacon stored above milk cartons and orange juice. In another cooler, observed raw bacon held over RTE potato squares and turkey bacon. All raw animal proteins must be stored below ready-to-eat (RTE) foods and stored according to cooking temperature at all times to prevent cross contamination. PIC properly stored all raw animal proteins according to the final cooking temperature based on the cooking parameters in § 3-401.11 of the Food Code. Corrective Action: Corrected at time of inspection.
Violation #: 16
Description: Food-Contact Surfaces: Cleaned and Sanitized
Comments:
PRIORITY VIOLATION-4-501.114 (A-E) - Priority: Manual and Mechanical Warewashing Equipment, Chemical Sanitization- Temperature, pH, Concentration and Hardness. 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/4574/AMC-Toolbox---Food-Contact-Surfaces.
Addl Notes: Observed dishes being sanitized in a quat solution containing 0ppm quat sanitizer. Observed chemical supply bucket. Food-contact surfaces must be properly sanitized after washing and rinsing. Discussed the importance of proper sanitizer levels and proper monitoring of sanitizer levels (200ppm quat per establishments quat sanitizer label). PIC changed the supply bucket at the time of inspection. Food-contact surfaces were properly sanitized at time of inspection. Corrective Action: Corrected at time of 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 RTE turkey sausage holding between 100-109*F and sausage gravy at 128*F when measured with a probe thermometer. Per PIC the foods had been holding for less than two hours. Observed the water bath in the steamer at 145*F and the units set to the "low" setting. Observed the turkey sausage patties held above the bottom of the pan with a metal rack so there was no direct contact with the warmed pan. Except during preparation, cooking, cooling or when time is used as a control all TCS foods must be maintained at 135°F or above. Since the breakfast service was ending soon, the PIC has all TCS foods improperly hot held 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 foods held at room temperature on the counter including RTE egg omelets at 66*F, raw bacon at 45*F, and sausage at 52*F. In the dry storage coolers, observed RTE sausage, potato squares and bacon holding between 44-55*F the PIC stated were held in the kitchen at room temp earlier while foods were being reheated. No refrigeration exists in the kitchen area to maintain TCS foods in temperature. All TCS foods improperly cold held were relocated to alternative functioning refrigeration unit to rapidly cool to 41°F at time of inspection. Observed an ambient air temp in the glass door cooler on the service line of 41*F when measured with a min/max thermometer. Observed TCS foods in the cooler ranging from 48-55*F including RTE hardboiled eggs, milk, chocolate milk, cream cheese packets, and yogurt. Per PIC all foods had been in the cooler for less than 4 hours. Due to limited refrigeration capacity, the PIC relocated the 48*F yogurt to the back freezer to rapidly cool and voluntarily discarded all other out-of-temperature TCS foods (see embargo). 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 TCS foods held beyond 24 hours without a date mark including turkey sausage, sausage links in bulk and in plastic wrap, scrambled eggs, bulk hardboiled eggs, and potato squares in bulk and prepared into containers. PIC stated all foods has been prepared yesterday 11/20. All RTE/TCS foods were properly date marked at the time of inspection. 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 #: 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 an ambient air temp in the glass door cooler on the service line of 41*F when measured with a min/max thermometer. Observed TCS foods in the cooler ranging from 48-55*F. PIC observed the thermostat adjusted to a middle temperature. Cold holding equipment must have the capacity to maintain TCS foods at 41°F or below. After lowering the temperature, observed the ambient air temp at 37*F after 30 minutes. Ensure all coolers maintain a temperature at a range that is capable of maintaining TCS foods in the proper range (41*F or below). Advised PIC to relocate at least one refrigeration unit into the kitchen area or to purchase an additional counter height cooler to maintain TCS foods during prep and service. Corrective Action: Corrected at time of inspection.
Comments/Details
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.