Inspection Report

Business Name
Denny's

Business Address
10623 E APACHE TRL APACHE JUNCTION AZ 85120

Permit Number
FD-46369

Permit Type
Food Establishment - Eating & Drinking

Inspection Purpose
CI Food Routine Inspection

Inspection Date
6/4/2025

Grade
Not Participating

Priority Violation
2

Inspection Status
Completed

Violations

Violation #: 8

Description: Hands Clean and Properly Washed

Comments:

PRIORITY VIOLATION-2-301.14 - Priority: When to Wash. 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 cook use gloved hands to crack raw shell eggs into a pan, then change gloves without washing hands in between glove changes. PIC instructed employee to wash hands and will retrain on when to wash. Discussed washing hands when they become contaminated, such as from raw proteins. Hands should be washed between glove changes, when changing tasks, etc. to prevent contamination of food and food contact surfaces. Corrective Action: Corrected at time of inspection.

Violation #: 22

Repeat Violation

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: 2ND CONSECUTIVE VIOLATION Observed sweet cream cheese topping and French toast batter cold holding in the make-line prep cooler and diced ham, diced tomatoes, caramelized onions, and liquid eggs cold holding in the cook-line egg cooler, with internal temperatures of 47-52F, probe thermometer, verified by PIC. According to PIC, the coolers were stocked less than 3 hours prior to inspection and the TCS foods will be cooled to 41F or less in the walk-in. Discussed the policy and procedure for line and temperature checks. Discussed the importance of maintaining cold food at 41F or less to limit pathogen growth and avoid causing foodborne illness. Except during preparation, cooking, cooling, or when time is used as a control all TCS food must be maintained at 41°F or less. Corrective Action: Corrected at time of inspection.

Comments/Details

Discussed the procedure for reheating TCS foods for hot holding. Emailed the Big 6 handout.
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.

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.