Inspection Report

Business Name
Whataburger Restaurants LLC

Business Address
3301 W PEORIA AVE PHOENIX AZ 85029

Permit Number
FD2500277

Permit Type
Food Establishment - Eating & Drinking

Inspection Purpose
CI Food Routine Inspection

Inspection Date
9/3/2025

Grade
B

Priority Violation
0

Inspection Status
Completed

Violations

Violation #: 24

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: -- Times stamps for multiple TCS foods holding at room temperature on burger prep line inaccurate by a few hours. The time stamps for cut lettuce and sliced tomatoes had time as a public health control (TPHC) start time of 10:00 AM with discard time of 2:00 PM. The TPHC audit began around 9:19 AM. Sliced Monterey jack cheese and American cheese had TPHC start time of 9:59 AM with discard time of 1:59 PM. Per person in charge (PIC), the lettuce and tomatoes were removed from cold holding and placed in prep unit at 6:00 AM this morning, and the sliced cheeses were removed from cold holding and placed out at room temperature around 10 minutes prior to the inspection. All TCS foods being held under time as a control were properly time stamped at time of inspection. Time as a Public Health Control requires written procedures detailing process for Time as a Public Health Control and accurate time-stamping for items actively held under Time as a Public Health Control. Corrective Action: Corrected at time of inspection.

Comments/Details

No County legal action will result from this inspection.
****Of note: Observed several RTE TCS foods with date mark time stamp inaccuracies throughout the establishment. Items such as cut lettuce, tomatoes, cheese, green chilis, cooked chorizo, and sausage crumbles had prep dates that were a few hours ahead of Mountain Standard Time (MST). Discussed with the PIC ensuring prep times for TCS foods in the cooling process and timeframes for TCS foods on TPHC are accurate. Verified onsite that the label maker for the establishment can accurately stamp with proper time/date.

***Discussed increasing restroom check frequencies.

"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.