Inspection Report

Business Name
Saffron Indian Grocery N Kitchen

Business Address
15050 N NORTHSIGHT BLVD SCOTTSDALE AZ 85260

Permit Number
FD-79774

Permit Type
Food Establishment - Eating & Drinking

Inspection Purpose
Food Routine Inspection

Inspection Date
11/3/2025

Grade
Not Participating

Priority Violation
2

Inspection Status
Completed

Violations

Violation #: 2

Repeat Violation

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: ***Second Consecutive Violation*** The person in charge (PIC) is not a certified food protection manager. Ensure the PIC on site is an ANSI-certified food protection manager and maintain the certificate available for review. (A) The PERSON IN CHARGE shall be a certified FOOD protection manager who has shown proficiency of required information through passing a test that is part of an ACCREDITED PROGRAM. Corrective Action: Correct prior to next routine inspection.

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: Employee handling boxes, went out back door, touched clothing, picking up dirty dishware, then donned gloves to return to cutting onions, without a proper handwash. Instructed employee to remove gloves, wash hands, and don new gloves to continue with task. Discussed the importance of proper hand washing and when hand washing is required with the person-in-charge (PIC). Hands are to be washed at any time contamination occurs and when changing tasks. 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. Corrective Action: Corrected at time of inspection.

Violation #: 10

Repeat Violation

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: At front handwashing sink, no disposable hand drying towels available. Disposable hand drying towels were provided at time of inspection. Maintain all handwashing sinks stocked with disposable hand drying towels at all times. Corrective Action: Corrected at time of inspection.

6-301.11 - Priority Foundation: Handwashing Cleanser, Availability. 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: ***Second Consecutive Violation*** At back room handwashing sink, no handwashing cleanser available. Handwashing cleanser was provided at time of inspection. Maintain all handwashing sinks stocked with handwashing cleanser at all times. Corrective Action: Corrected at time of inspection.

Violation #: 16

Description: Food-Contact Surfaces: Cleaned and Sanitized

Comments:

PRIORITY VIOLATION-4-602.11 (A-D) - Priority: Equipment Food-Contact Surfaces and Utensils-Frequency. 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: In back prep area, in use knife stored behind handwashing sink. Employee moved knife to start using on cutting up vegetables without first warewashing. Instructed employee to move knife to 3-compartment sink for proper warewashing before use. (A) EQUIPMENT FOOD-CONTACT SURFACES and UTENSILS shall be cleaned: (5) At any time during the operation when contamination may have occurred. 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: In prep table cooler on cook line and in walk in cooler, no date marks on TCS prepared foods (cooked sauces, cooked proteins). Per employee, TCS foods were prepared >24 hours. Instructed employee to date mark all TCS prepared foods in cook line prep table cooler and in walk in cooler. RTE/TCS (time/ temperature control for food safety) foods requiring date marking are to 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 #: 39

Repeat Violation

Description: Contamination Prevented during Food Preparation, Storage and Display

Comments:

3-305.11 - Core: Food Storage - Preventing Contamination from the Premises Addl Notes: ***Second Consecutive Violation*** In walk in freezer and walk in cooler, packaged TCS foods stored directly on ground. Instructed employees to move all packaged food off of ground to prevent future contamination. Food is to be stored at least 6 inches off the ground at all times to prevent contamination from the premises. Corrective Action: Correct prior to next routine inspection.

Violation #: 47

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

Comments:

4-501.12 - Core: Cutting Surfaces Addl Notes: Throughout establishment, cutting boards deeply scored. Resurface or replace cutting boards. Surfaces such as cutting blocks and boards that are subject to scratching and scoring shall be resurfaced if they can no longer be effectively cleaned and SANITIZED, or discarded if they are not capable of being resurfaced. Cutting surfaces such as cutting boards and blocks that become scratched and scored may be difficult to clean and sanitize. As a result, pathogenic microorganisms transmissible through food may build up or accumulate. These microorganisms may be transferred to foods that are prepared on such surfaces. Corrective Action: Correct prior to next routine inspection.

4-101.19 - Core: Nonfood-Contact Surfaces Addl Notes: At front service counter at cold case, door handles held together with duct tape and on hot holding case windows, foil used to maintain doors closed. Repair with product that is a smooth and easily cleanable surface. NonFOOD-CONTACT SURFACES of EQUIPMENT that are exposed to splash, spillage, or other FOOD soiling or that require frequent cleaning shall be constructed of a CORROSION-RESISTANT, nonabsorbent, and SMOOTH material. Corrective Action: Correct prior to next routine inspection.

Violation #: 49

Description: Non-Food-Contact Surfaces Clean

Comments:

4-602.13 - Core: Nonfood Contact Surfaces Addl Notes: Throughout establishment, shelves on cook line, rolling rack for cook line, front and inside of prep table cooler, inside and outside of microwave, outside of blender, prep tables with accumulation of food debris and residues. Maintain clean. Nonfood-contact surfaces shall be kept free of an accumulation of dust, dirt, food residue, and other debris. Nonfood-contact surfaces shall be cleaned at a frequency necessary to preclude accumulation of soil residues. Corrective Action: Correct prior to next routine inspection.

Violation #: 55

Description: Physical Facilities Installed, Maintained, and Clean

Comments:

6-501.12 - Core: Cleaning, Frequency and Restrictions Addl Notes: Throughout establishment, under shelving, along cook line, along cove base in kitchen, in walk in cooler and freezer, floors with accumulation of food residues and debris. Maintain clean. (A) PHYSICAL FACILITIES shall be cleaned as often as necessary to keep them clean. Corrective Action: Correct prior to next routine inspection.

Comments/Details

No County legal action will result from this inspection.
Ensure all employees working with food obtain food worker certification from ANSI certified online site.

"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.