Inspection Report

Business Name
Pho Fresh Alley & Boba Tea
Business Address
1000 E APACHE BLVD TEMPE AZ 85281
Permit Number
FD-23-01889
Permit Type
Food Establishment - Eating & Drinking
Inspection Purpose
Food Routine Inspection
Inspection Date
2/11/2025
Grade
Not Participating
Priority Violation
2
Inspection Status
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: Person in charge indicated there was no Certified Food Protection Manager onsite at time of inspection. Establishment was open and operating. 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 #: 8

Description: Hands Clean and Properly Washed

Comments:

PRIORITY VIOLATION-2-301.12 - Priority: Cleaning Procedure. 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: Observed employees wash their hands for less than 15 seconds. Discussed the importance of proper hand washing procedures with the person-in-charge (PIC). Proper handwashing procedure is to rinse hands with warm water, scrub with soap for 10-15 seconds, rinse with warm water, dry with approved drying provision, and turn off in a manner to prevent re-contamination of hands. Entire process should take approximately 20 seconds for full and proper handwashing to prevent spread of pathogens and contamination. Person in charge indicated they would discuss and train staff on how to wash their hands adequately. 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 nacho cheese with an internal temperature of 127*F in a hot holding unit. Person in charge indicated it was held over yesterday service, cooled in the walk-in refrigerator, and then immediately placed in the hot holding unit ~1.5 prior to inspection. Discussed with person in charge ensuring foods are reheated within 2 hours to 165*F if held over or prepared from cooled TCS food prepared in the restaurant or 135*F if from commercially processed and hermetically sealed container; once it is reheated it must be held at 135*F and above except during preparation, cooking, cooling or when time is used as a control. The nacho cheese sauce was reheated to 170*F at time of inspection. 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 the following ready to eat (RTE)/time temperature controlled for safety (TCS) foods with no label indicating when they were prepared: house made egg rolls, cooked chicken. Person in charge indicated they were prepared 2/9/25 (frozen the same day) and removed from the freezer last night. Person in charge was informed that the day they were prepared, frozen, and the day they were removed from the freezer must be documented to ensure that RTE TCS foods are not stored at refrigeration temperatures for more than 7 days (day 1 being the day they were prepared). The person in charge indicated these foods are used within 2 days and opted to label these foods with just the day they were prepared (2/9). Corrective Action: Corrected at time of inspection.

Violation #: 24

Repeat Violation

Description: Time as a Public Health Control: Procedures and Records

Comments:

3-501.19 (A1, B2, C2-3) - Priority Foundation: Time as a Public Health Control; Documentation. 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 the following time/temperature controlled for safety foods on time as a control with no time indicating when time as a public health control started: cooked noodles (internal temperature 74*F), microwaved onions (internal temperature 85*F), and cooked boba (internal temperature 79*F). The establishment's policy was not on-site either. Per the person in charge these foods were made at 10 am and are used or discarded with 2 hours. The times were labelled on the containers. A time as a public health control policy was printed and displayed at time of inspection as well. Ensure policy is always posted and times are always documented on the containers (or any other adequate means of keeping track of the times). Corrective Action: Corrected at time of inspection. REPEAT VIOLATION (2ND CONSECUTIVE)

Violation #: 25

Description: Consumer Advisory Provided for Raw or Undercooked Food

Comments:

3-603.11 - Priority Foundation: Consumption of Animal Foods that are Raw, Undercooked, or Not Otherwise Processed to Eliminate Pathogens. 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: Operator indicated in to-go and online orders that raw sliced beef is served frozen and raw. Person also indicated that sliced beef can we served raw or undercooked in the restaurant. Observed no disclosure that raw beef maybe served raw or undercooked; observed no reminder indicating that ingesting raw animal proteins may lead to illness. Offering and serving undercooked proteins requires an approved consumer advisory at all points of sale; and must contain an approved disclosure method and reminder statement. Must provide approved consumer advisory at all points of sale prior to re-inspection (this includes digital platforms as well). Corrective Action: Correct prior to re-inspection 2/21/25.

Violation #: 28

Description: Toxic Substances Properly Identified, Stored, and Used; Held for Retail Sale, Properly Stored

Comments:

7-102.11 - Priority Foundation: Common Name-Working Containers Addl Notes: Observed a spray bottle with pink liquid and a spray bottle with blue liquid with no label indicating what was in the spray bottles. Person in charge indicated they were sanitizer for the tables and hood cleaner respectively. Working containers used for storing poisonous/toxic materials such as cleaners and sanitizers taken from bulk supplies shall be clearly and individually identified with the common name of the material to help prevent the dangerous misuse of the contents. The containers were labelled with their contents at time of inspection. Corrective Action: Corrected at time of inspection.

Violation #: 33

Repeat Violation

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 a large wok fried rice with an internal temperature of 122*F sitting out at room temperature. Person in charge indicated it had been prepared 45 minutes to 1 hour before observed. Discussed ensuring TCS foods are cooled within 2 hours from 135°F to 70°F and within a total of 6 hours from 135°F and 41°F or less; to ensure this TCS foods must be cooled in: uncovered/loosely covered, shallow containers less than 4 inches deep, in equipment designed to rapidly cool, by using an ice bath, by using ice as an ingredient, or another effective means. Person in charge split the wok into several shallow containers and placed them in the walk-in to cool more rapidly. Discussed ensuring rapid cooling as soon as the food hits 135*F. Corrective Action: Corrected at time of inspection. REPEAT VIOLATION (4TH CONSECUTIVE)

Violation #: 47

Description: Food and Non-Food-Contact Surfaces Cleanable, Properly Designed, Constructed and Used

Comments:

4-202.11 - Priority Foundation: Food-Contact Surfaces-Cleanability. 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 plastic 5-gallon containers used to store pho broth with warping from excessive heat applied to these containers. Also observed lid (lid was for container used to store cooked beef) with warping from excessive heat applied to the lid. Multiuse food-contact surfaces shall be: smooth; free of breaks, open seams, cracks, chips, inclusions, pits, and similar imperfections; free of sharp internal angles, corners, and crevices; finished to have smooth welds and joints. Discussed with person in charge replacing containers when they are damaged; damage to container may make it hard to clean or pose a risk to the foods that are stored in them. Person in charge indicated they would replace these containers. Corrective Action: Correct prior to re-inspection 2/21/25.

Comments/Details


Due to the violations noted on this inspection report, County legal action may result from this inspection.
Provided guidance documents on: cooling, consumer advisory, employee illness policy

"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.
Grading System The matrix below is used to grade food inspections under the voluntary grading system.
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.