Dozens of rat droppings at Duane Reade. Uncomfortably warm shrimp at Food Emporium. Prime rib that had to be destroyed at Western Beef. Recent inspections of Upper West Side grocery stores have turned up all sorts of nastiness, and the results of those inspections have been compiled in a handy map for all to see (posted below).
This data, compiled by blog network Patch, is not easily available to the public like data on city restaurant inspections. Restaurants are inspected by the city Health Department, but grocery stores are inspected by the state Department of Agriculture and Markets. Inspection data must be requested from the agency.
You can click on the map below to see how your favorite grocery store fared at its most recent inspection. Red and purple markers show stores that failed their inspections. Below that, we’ve also listed some of the critical deficiencies (“an immediate threat to the public health and welfare”) that the state found at local grocery stores.
A couple of quick notes: There were no rats or mice seen at Fairway on 74th at a December inspection, but an inspector noted that “5-10 old appearing mouse droppings are present on staircase leading to second floor.” And as a commenter pointed out, at Whole Foods on 97th “two old, decayed rat carcasses are present on the floor along the walls in the loading dock area,” a discovery that apparently did not qualify as a critical deficiency. La la la, nothing to see here, just some rat carcasses.
Duane Reade, 89th and Broadway:
- 10-15 fresh appearing rat droppings were noted on a floor corner behind stored unused metal shelving materials.
- 50-75 dried and old appearing rat droppings were noted in rear wall corner at the side of the air condition unit in the basement.
Food Emporium, 89th and Broadway:
-
Food worker was noted returning to the bakery processing area from an outside area, then putting on clean gloves and handling exposed,  ready-to-eat breads without washing hands before putting on the clean gloves   Proper use of sanitary protective barriers was discussed and instituted during the inspection.
-
Cooked shrimp in a plastic bag was noted stored on a shelf in the seafood walk-in box at an  internal temperature of 64°F for  an unknown time.  A total of 2.0 pounds of product was destroyed under signed waiver during the inspection. (the shrimp were seized by the state)
Nathalie’s Deli, 67th and Amsterdam:
- Raw fish stored in partially covered container in basement freezer is subject to cross contamination from raw poultry in leaking container held directly above the raw fish. Foods adequately segregated and condition corrected during inspection.
- 5-10 live adult cockroaches are present under deli counter cabinet.
- 30-50 fresh appearing mouse droppings are present on floor/wall perimeters in basement walk-in cooler.
- Barbecued chicken wings and roasted potato with onions are stored above and in retail hot-holding display case at internal temperatures of 90*F-100*F for an undetermined amount of time with no records available. Total 17lbs products destroyed under signed waiver during inspection.
Western Beef, 63rd off of West End Avenue:
- Baking pans used in food preparation in deli counter have buildup of old, dried food residues on food contact surfaces and are stored with clean food utensils. Equipment properly cleaned and sanitized during inspection.
- Pots/pans in equipment wash area are noted to have been improperly cleaned without being sanitized. Equipment properly cleaned and sanitized during inspection.
- 20-25 live adult cockroaches are present on loading/receiving area utility fixtures and along wall.
- Assorted pre-packaged cheeses in retail refrigerated display case have internal temperatures of 62*F-70*F for an undetermined amount of time. Total 15.75 lbs products destroyed under signed waiver during inspection.
- Store-cooked prime rib is stored in on deli counter shelf at an internal temperature of 60*F for an undetermined amount of time. Total 4lbs product destroyed under signed waiver during inspection.
- Store made roasted chicken pieces in deli counter hot holding unit have an internal temperature of 110*F. Product has been unit for an undetermined amount of time with no records available. Total 6lbs product destroyed under signed waiver during inspection.
Notable that of the major high-end UWS retailers the uptown (Harlem) Fairway has the cleanest report and the two Whole Foods the worst. But hey, all that dirt and grime is probably organic.
Whole Foods: decayed rat carcasses??!?!
Prime rib at Western Beef? That statement alone shoulda got a ticket.
The entire meat department at Western Beef is an open, “kind of cold” refrigerated section. I’m sure they have to dispose of lots of product every week, at least I hope they do.
We purchased already-spoiled cartons of milk from Western Beef multiple times. Now we only buy packaged goods there.
The map shows wrong locations for both Food Emporium and Duane Reade. Food Emporium is on 90th St, not 89th, and Duane Reade is on 88th St, not 89th. Is attention to detail and precision completely dead in journalism now?
We live close to WEstern beef and last weekend we saw chicken being delivered in carton boxes, left on the pavement uncovered and wind blowing all the dirt all over it.
I went to western beef east New York and saw a produce worker pickup fruit salad from the floor and put the container back she did not wear gloves. Some of the fruits that fell on the floor was mixed in with other fruit container. I am not shopping there I am completely spooked. I don’t trust that grocery location.