Inspection Report

Business Name
AJ's Fine Foods

Business Address
15031 N THOMPSON PEAK PKWY SCOTTSDALE AZ 85260

Permit Number
FD-85158

Permit Type
Food Establishment - Eating & Drinking

Inspection Purpose
Food Routine Inspection

Inspection Date
4/14/2025

Grade
Not Participating

Priority Violation
3

Inspection Status
Completed

Cutting Edge Cutting Edge Participant

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: At sandwich prep table, employee donned gloves to handle ready to eat bread, after hands were in pockets of pants, 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. 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: At slicer counter, two slicers with accumulation of food debris (cheeses and deli meats) on blade and nonfood contact surfaces. Per employee, slicers have not been warewashed today and were in use >4 hours. Instructed employee to warewash slicers at time of inspection. All food-contact surfaces that contact TCS foods must be cleaned every 4 hours by washing, rinsing, and sanitizing. Corrective Action: Corrected at time of inspection.

Violation #: 24

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

Comments:

PRIORITY VIOLATION-3-501.19 (B1,3-4; C1,4-5) - Priority: Time as a Public Health Control; Temperature, Discarded. 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 hot case, breakfast burritos from >4 hours and in walk in cooler, cooked eggs from previous day not discarded. Per employee, breakfast burritos and cooked eggs use time as a public health control. Breakfast burritos and cooked eggs were discarded. See embargo form. (B) If time without temperature control is used as the public health control up to a maximum of 4 hours: (3) The FOOD shall be cooked and served, served at any temperature if READY-TO-EAT, or discarded, within 4 hours from the point in time when the FOOD is removed from temperature control. Corrective Action: Corrected at time of inspection.

Comments/Details

No County legal action will result from this inspection.
After discussion with the person in charge, it has been determined that the root cause of the violation was training staff (verification breakdown), which resulted in the violation.

This establishment has failed to demonstrate the necessary level of compliance to continue participation in the Cutting Edge Program.
Reviewed with manager: cooling methods, cooking of roasts (oven parameters).

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.