A purse was found in a fortune cookie package in one Montco eatery

From catching a food handler eating lettuce to finding a purse and sweater inside a box of fortune cookies, Montgomery County Health Department inspectors were on the case in November.

The department rarely orders eateries to close, but they do dole out plenty of citations and threaten to issue fines if a business doesn't address sanitation concerns.

We looked at 22 restaurants that received seven or more food-borne illness risk violations last month.

Every inspection is generally regarded as a "snapshot in time" and not necessarily a reflection of day-to-day conditions. Most violations were fixed immediately on site in the presence of an inspector.

To look up reports on a specific Montgomery County restaurant or a Philadelphia, Bucks or Gloucester County eatery, or read more in the Inquirer's Clean Plates series, visit philly.com/cleanplates.

The All Ways Café
634 Welsh Rd., Huntingdon Valley
27 violations, 12 food-borne illness risks
Food handler seen eating lettuce from salad bin during set up/prep of salad station; person seen dispensing lettuce from salad bin with ungloved hand; facility had a used fly strip in the prep area above uncovered ready-to-eat food items at the ice bath station; facility lacked date markings for prepared food items throughout; food, grease and dirt found along floors throughout as well as along the wall above the grill station; a food handler was seen prepping sandwich wrap without using a hair restraint; facility did not have gloves for handling ready-to-eat food items.
Facility has been scheduled for a re-inspection which will take place on or after Nov. 28. Inspected Nov. 14.

Hong Kong Kitchen
549 S Broad St, Lansdale
46 violations, 11 food-borne illness risks
An employee's purse and jacket were stored inside box of packaged fortune cookies; rodent droppings found on dry storage shelves in the basement; fryer basin filled with used oil was stored in employee restroom; unclean toilet in employee restroom; mold found on a rectangle cutting board; raw pork stored above raw shrimp in walk-in cooler; single use container without handle used as scoop and stored in contact with product in bulk dry storage container; frost build-up inside chest freezers in basement; trash dumpster lid left open, oil dumpster lid left open.
The Montgomery County Health Department will conduct a re-inspection on or after Nov. 28 due to number of violations and repeated violations. Inspected Nov. 14.

Manhattan Bagel
1210 Bethlehem Pike Suite 2B North Wales
19 violations, 10 food-borne illness risks
A baby bottle was being stored with retail food items inside of walk in cooler; fruit flies observed at prep areas as well as flies in the dining area; multiple items in food prep coolers including the chicken, tuna, macaroni and potato salad were kept at improper temperatures; mold found on shelving in retail beverage cooler; multiple items stored in facility walk in cooler lacking approved date markings; an employee was seen drinking a smoothie from a container lacking a lid and straw; the facility was discarding milk and other products down hand sink across from the cook's line; bagels were stored uncovered inside of the walk-in cooler.
Inspected on Nov. 1.

Wing Lee Cuisine
537 Easton Rd., Horsham
19 violations, 9 food-borne illness risks
Cardboard on floor at cook's line; grease build-up on hood filters above cook's line; employee beverage without lid and straw stored on a shelf with cut lemons and clean glasses; debris found on gaskets of three-door cooler at sushi area, walk-in cooler, and door to ice machine; pH log for sushi rice lacks recordings for the month of November; date markings lacking on prepared ready-to-eat foods in walk-in cooler, and on foods frozen in the facility; pH meter was not functioning properly.
Facility must correct and maintain all violations. Inspected on Nov. 27.

Farm and Fisherman Tavern
575 Horsham Rd., Horsham
18 violations, 9 food-borne illness risks
A half gallon of milk was expired; a gallon milk container was improperly stored in ice; open bags of dry goods were not adequately sealed; in-use tongs stored on cart handles and oven handles; in-use utensils stored in standing water at bakery and grill area; tape on basting brush; employee beverages not in cups with lid and straw were placed on/over prep surface, wares, or food, through out the kitchen; chemical cleaners and sanitizer stored over/on food prep surface, wares, or foods, coffee area, ware storage, plating area.
Inspected Nov. 17.

Hatboro Dish
102 S York Rd., Hatboro
16 violations, 8 food-borne illness risks
Uncovered food items were found inside of multiple refrigeration and freezer units; facility doesn't have an easily readable thermometer for the reach-in cooling unit; there is no hot water at a hand sink; there was no certified food safety manager; food spillage found on the bottom of Pepsi reach-in cooler; food handlers lacking hair restraints during food prep.
Inspected Nov. 21.

Manatawny Association
20 King St., Pottstown
12 violations, 8 food-borne illness risks
Kitchen not being used at this time; ashtray with lit cigarette in kitchen; no hot water in women's restroom; drained fryer had a grease debris; can opener blade with dried debris; fire suppression system had expired; construction materials in kitchen; debris in bottom of reach-in cooler.
Inspected Nov. 15.

Pizza Plaza of Horsham
316 Horsham Rd., Horsham
29 violations, 8 food-borne illness risks
The faucet on the kitchen hand sink was broken; medicine was stored on shelf with cans of food; rodent droppings found on the bottom shelf below the front counter; employee food and beverages stored on prep table; crumb debris found in bread drawer; anchovies stored in opened original can; debris on fan guards in three-door coke cooler, walk-in cooler, and walk-in freezer; utensils stored in basin of hand sink.
Montgomery County Health Department will conduct a re-inspection on or after Nov. 16 due to number of violations and repeat violations. Inspected Nov. 2.

Founding Farmers KOP
255 Main St., King of Prussia
14 violations, 8 food-borne illness risks
Expired milk found; packages of beef were sitting in food prep sink improperly thawing; the hand wash sink was blocked; cutting boards had deep grooves/discoloration; employee beverage stored near food related items; there were no paper towels at hand sink in dish room; a purse and sweater were stored near food-related items; a bowl was used to dispense dry food items; the filters above cookline equipment were not clean.
Facility using Reduce Oxygen Packaging (ROP) to include vacuum packaging, sous vide, and cook-chill, and must submit a hazard analysis and critical control points plan for approval. Inspected Nov. 30.

Fuji Japanese Restaurant 
1210 Bethlehem Pike, North Wales,
36 violations, 7 food-borne illness risks
Grease filters in hood system were found with accumulation and visible oil hanging from them; hand sink at sushi counter not operable, food debris in basin, water turned off due to faucet not begin able to shut off; first aid supplies stored on shelf with single use items in hall; grease trap lid with large holes; odor throughout ware washing area; dirt accumulation on wire racks, soap dispenser rack at ware washing, both sides of kitchen doors, hibachi cart; the drain funnel in the prep sink had a black accumulation; caulk at ware washing machine had mold accumulation.
Facility has been scheduled for a re-inspection on or after Nov. 21. Inspected Nov. 7.

Break Time
1222 Welsh Road,B-10, North Wales
14 violations, 7 food-borne illness risks
Milk held at improper temperature; a half gallon container of milk was not marked with the date it was opened; cell phone improperly stored on the prep table; medicine and/or vitamins improperly stored on top of the prep table and on the shelf underneath where packaged food is stored; lotion, nail polish remover, and soap stored on shelf with packaged food items; opened bags of dry foods were not transferred to secondary containers with tight fitting lids.
Inspected Nov. 28.

Limerick Diner
411 W Ridge Pike, Limerick
23 violations, 7 food-borne illness risks
Hot water did not reach required temperature in the restroom, three-bay, hand sink and in the bakery; heavy dried-on grease found between grills and on fryer wheels; approximately 30 rusted and/or dented cans were found in dry storage in the basement; pastry display case was not at required temperature, the glass doors were off the hinges; can opener blade was not clean; oil or mayonnaise based dressings held at room temperature; heavy frost build-up in the ice cream freezer, the tops of ice cream containers were off; there was a heavy ice build-up in the walk-in freezer in the basement and bakery.
Facility must correct and maintain all noted violations. Facility will be scheduled for a re-inspection on or after Dec. 12. Inspected Nov. 28.

Sang Kee Asian Bistro
339 E Lancaster Ave., Wynnewood
24 violations, 7 food-borne illness risks
Food was found uncovered and in colanders in the dim sum walk-in cooler; shellfish did not have the proper dated tags to indicate when it was sold or to be consumed; raw food stored over ready-to-eat food in the prep area of the two-door reach-in cooler; soda gun nozzle and holster at the bar were unclean; the wall behind the cook's line had grease build-up; there was no hot water in one of the women's restrooms; a bag of food was found defrosting outside of the walk-in cooler; personal items of an employee were found on a food storage shelf in the storage room.
Facility is scheduled for a re-inspection on or after Dec. 5. Inspected Nov. 21.

Golden Great Wall
914 Limekiln Pike, Ambler
21 violations, 7 foodborne illness risks
There was an employee beverage found on a prep counter near the rice cooker; raw chicken was seen resting on top of bucket of sauce in the walk-in cooler; food container stacked directly on top of exposed food in walk-in cooler; food items improperly stored in opened original cans; absorbent towel lining counter under cutting board during food preparation; boxes of single use utensils were stored in a closet in women's restroom; can used as scoop and stored in dry storage container in shed; frost build-up found on shelves in both the one-door reach-in freezers.
Inspected Nov. 15.

Franconis Pizzeria – Cifellis Pizzeria LLC
626 Welsh Rd., Huntingdon Valley
23 violations, 7 food-borne illness risks
Mold found on shelving of reach-in coolers and the fan guards in reach-in beverage cooler; multiple food handlers lacking hair restraints; damaged interior of pizza prep cooler lid; raw food items stored above ready-to-eat food items in reach-in coolers and freezers; there were no hand wash signs at the hand sinks in the  facility; thermometer in the sandwich prep cooler was missing; soiled interior of microwave at sandwich prep area; the facility was storing boxes of mozzarella cheese inside of reach-in beverage cooler with potential access by the public.
Inspected Nov. 14.

China King
450 Pennbrook Pkwy., Lansdale
22 violations, 7 food-borne illness risks
Employee coffee cup was stored on a steam table; raw chicken was stored above shrimp and ready-to-eat food in walk-in cooler; medicine found on shelf with single use utensils and/or food; grease build-up found on hood filters above cook's line; food debris seen on floor under cook's line equipment; single use containers without handles were used as scoops and stored in contact with product in dry storage containers and in rice pot; boxes of single use containers stored on floor in kitchen and dry storage closet.
Montgomery County Health Department will conduct a re-inspection on or after Nov. 27, due to number of violations and repeat violations. Inspected Nov. 13.

Franconis Pizzeria & Ristorante
1200 Welsh Road, J-1, North Wales
15 violaitons, 7 food-borne illness risks
Can opener blade with dried accumulation found; cutting board with grooves and stains at hoagie prep station; shredded mozzarella and mushrooms in pizza prep refrigerator were not held at required temperature; there were dried accumulation on the under side of shake blender; tape on food prep surface at pizza prep station; absorbent linen tied to legs of adjacent prep table.
Failure to correct and maintain repeat violations could lead to legal action. Inspected Nov. 9.

Asian Legend Vietnamese Cuisine
844 W Main St., Lansdale
13 violations, 7 food-borne illness risks
Hot water not available at restroom hand sinks; food including cooked rice, bean sprouts, cut basil and rice noodles stores at improper temperatures; a bag of flour and boxes of oil were stored on the floor in back of facility; raw chicken stored above raw shrimp in walk-in cooler. sauce stored in opened and original can; an employee beverages was stored in prep areas; personal items stored on shelf with food/utensils under front counter and on top of ice machine.
Facility must correct and maintain all violations. Inspected Nov. 8.

Commonwealth National Golf Club
250 Babylon Rd., Horsham,
13 violations, 7 food-borne illness risks
Water from the refrigerator condenser leaked onto five portions of polenta; linguini and three orders of short ribs were held past their maximum shelf life; employee seen carrying washed lemons in contact with clothing; cutting boards had grooves and stains; employee beverages were not placed as to avoid contamination of food, wares, etc; a ware washer employee was lacking a hair restraint.
Fire suppression system was not in compliance. Inspected Nov. 7.

Blue Moon Deli & Grocery
447 E High St., Pottstown
18 violations, 7 food-borne illness risks
Slicer with heavy dried-on food debris found ; foods in steam table and in the walk-in were not held at required temperature; the handwash sink was blocked with construction debris, no soap or paper towels found; grab-and-go slices of cake without ingredient labels were at the front counter; heavy frost prevented the chest freezer lid from closing; interior of microwave was not clean; dumpster lid open; dirty rags on floor.
Facility will be scheduled for a re-inspection on or after Nov. 20. Inspected on Nov. 6.

A La Maison French Bistro
53 W Lancaster Ave., Ardmore
23 violations, 7 food-borne illness risks
The Montgomery County Health Deparment license to operate a food establishment had expired; there were no current shell stock tags for mussels that would indicate the origin of the shellfish; there were no accurate thermometers in several of the cold units throughout the kitchen; insects were found in the back storage room behind office and on glue trap; mouse droppings found at several areas of the perimeter of kitchen and stairwell; grease was found on the side of hood/suppression system.
Lower Merion Fire Marshal was contacted at time of inspection about potential smoke/ventilation issues. Facility was scheduled for a re-inspection on or after Nov. 17. Inspected Nov. 3.

Taorminas Pizzeria Restaurant LLC
2333 Welsh Rd., Lansdale
23 violations, 7 food-borne illness risks
Debris was found at the bottom of pizza prep cooler; absorbent towels lining milk crates storing pots of food in walk-in cooler; raw chicken stored above ready-to-eat food in walk-in cooler; the right side of the prep cooler did not work; foods including tomatoes and sausage were not held at required temperature; hair restraint lacking for food handler; damaged floor below left side prep cooler and near swinging doors to kitchen; there were waterstained ceiling tiles above dining area.
The health department will conduct a re-inspection on or after Dec. 14 due to number of violations and repeat violations. Inspected Nov. 30.

To look up reports on a specific Montgomery County restaurant or a Philadelphia, Bucks or Gloucester County eatery, or read more in the Inquirer's Clean Plates series, visit philly.com/cleanplates.