Does anybody know why Ztao is closed?
Posted by peterbilt8713@reddit | plano | View on Reddit | 95 comments
Why?
Posted by peterbilt8713@reddit | plano | View on Reddit | 95 comments
Why?
Lyudmiraaaaa@reddit
This is a announcement from ztao market just now: Clarification & Update 说明与澄清 A recent routine inspection was conducted by the local health department. The notice at our entrance requests us to make certain improvements. • Our store has remained open and was not ordered to close. • Regarding the circulating comments, it concerns a newly hired employee who was obtaining water from a mop sink faucet, not washing or processing food in the sink. However, this practice does not meet food safety standards. • The involved food has been discarded, we have reinforced staff training, and separated food-use and non-food-use sinks to ensure proper safety procedures.
ifruitia@reddit
Much appreciated for the update! 🫡🫡
Agitated-Listen3708@reddit
Main reason is until they install handwashing sinks in preparation areas
ZTao Inspection
arcanition@reddit
All of the listed violations are pretty bad:
Distribution-Radiant@reddit
Ugh, this almost made me vomit in my mouth a bit, and I've worked in some horribly nasty places.
A lot of this (aside from the mop sink crap) is stuff that a brand new employee wouldn't obviously know if they hadn't worked in food service before, but doesn't the entire state require a food handler's permit to do this stuff now? I've had multiple permits across multiple cities, but I think they consolidated them into a statewide one awhile back?
At least with meat, if I remember right (I've been out of food service for years now), top to bottom is seafood, beef / bison, pork, then poultry? I don't remember any rules around wild game since I never dealt with that, but the stuff that can be cooked properly at the lowest temp goes at the top; stuff that needs the highest temp goes at the bottom. That way if anything gets drippy, it's cooked at a high enough temp to kill bacteria. Poultry needs the highest temp (ALWAYS cook to at least 160 before pulling; let it rest 5 minutes then check with a high quality instant read thermometer to make sure it rose to 165), seafood the lowest unless it's shellfish.
And you can NEVER store any kind of meat above produce. Produce gets its own separate rack... and washing sink. Hell, when I worked at the Whole Foods in Plano, in the deli kitchen, produce got a completely separate cooler from meats.
Stafford4Collin@reddit
My wife is management, and she had to get a Food Handler’s license just to mange staff.
Jedi_Hog@reddit
We cook chicken multiple times per week & have never used a meat thermometer for it (we will use one to make sure we don’t overcook our steaks at times). I guess we “just know” when it’s ready
Distribution-Radiant@reddit
Yeah, you can go by the color of the juice when you smash down on it. I just worked in too many restaurants; poultry is the one type of meat I do not fuck around with.
Boring_Bit2767@reddit
The good ones (ThermoWorks Thermapen) regularly go on sales for $60, they last forever, and they're SO fast.
scummygenghis@reddit
That mop sink gets a lot of work!
blah_blah_bitch@reddit
Dear God, well even when they reopen I don't think I'll be visiting 🤢
TRH100@reddit
🤢
skteitelman@reddit
Jesus Christ there’s so many infractions I fear fixing everything won’t fix anything.
FrostTrapsRGhey@reddit
Yeah this place was a petri dish and law suit waiting to happen
TheDutchTexan@reddit
Nope, that is only the tip of the iceberg when you read through that. Loved the "washing produce in the FUCKING MOP SINK" part...
Veronica612@reddit
That just about made me gag. How disgusting.
TheDutchTexan@reddit
Right? We always bought packaged stuff so it doesn’t affect us. But still, that is just beyond nasty…
tractorcrusher@reddit
I like to imagine they were washing the vegetables under the mop sink faucet, but not putting vegetables in the actual mop sink.
No-Doughnut324@reddit
You would like to imagine that instead of the reality of your bok choy tasting like Fabuloso.
charlie-foxtrot3@reddit
Mop sinks splash everywhere, this still isn’t the move food safety wise
DT-Rex@reddit
Im sure they where using that mop sink area to wash vegetables only, I doubt they did any mopping.
Slightlycritical1@reddit
I agree but I’d much rather they’re just using the faucet rather than filling up the sink and dropping them in, and it’s thankfully probably the prior.
thesafinster@reddit
also, a lot of their drinks and snacks are expired. not just by a few days, but months to a year...
HankFromArlenTX@reddit
So washing vegetables in the mop sink wasn’t more of a red flag for you?
DullComb6171@reddit
God damn, do ya’ll whiny MFs want authentic Chinese markets or not?
Relevant-Chard-5639@reddit
They’re still open
Full-Improvement5080@reddit
https://inspections.myhealthdepartment.com/plano/inspection/?inspectionID=0B74361C-B194-4792-9070-D4EAC18BE0A3
Commercial-Two-6495@reddit
Missing dogs, is what I heard linked to the notice.
No-Stable-5582@reddit
In looks like because of a code violation to plano's citycode
KnowledgeComplete947@reddit
Violation of Code Ordinances I think
brandymidd@reddit
Eeww
plantaholic2@reddit
Do the managers have their food management certification???? This is all covered in it.
a_me_@reddit
Honestly this is just gross, same sink for mop water and preparing food.
Observations & Corrective Actions
40: §9-22(d) Observed a food employee washing and rinsing seaweed and other vegetables in the mop sink. Video was taken. Corrective Actions: Food and vegetables were discarded by the PIC and the food employee. DISCONTINUE THE USE OF THE MOP SINK FOR FOOD PREPARATION. ENSURE DURING FOOD PREPARATION, UNPACKAGED FOOD MUST BE PROTECTED FROM ENVIRONMENTAL SOURCES OF CONTAMINATION.
Distribution-Radiant@reddit
Holy crap. I've worked in some pretty nasty restaurants (and played a part in getting them shut down by the health dept before), but never washing produce in the mop sink nasty.
Do you have a link to the entire report?
smallestlion@reddit
https://inspections.myhealthdepartment.com/plano/inspection/?inspectionID=F8D133CD-BA5C-4BF7-9A7D-B1C5918F2E5C
Distribution-Radiant@reddit
Man... none of is is particularly horrid until you get to the "washing produce in the mop bucket sink" bit. That makes me want to puke a bit. Most of the rest sounds like a cheap owner trying to get by until they get caught and forced to repair issues (see: almost every independent restaurant in the US).
The meat cross contamination is also a big issue, especially if someone has a seafood allergy. I personally feel like seafood shouldn't even be in the same cooler as other meats; I don't have any allergies myself, but I know a single drip from a shrimp that falls onto, say, beef, can cause a severe reaction to someone with a shellfish allergy.
Positive-Froyo-1732@reddit
I'm going to take a wild stab and say it's due to violation of City of Plano Code of Ordinances.
AsleepChampionship83@reddit
Genius guess
Hot-Education4582@reddit
Just casually washing produce and seaweed in the mop sink and telling employees they don't have to wash their hands, no biggie
KawaiiDere@reddit
I'm so glad I've only gotten crystalized ginger and prepackaged foods from here (miso paste, banana milk, etc).
TheDutchTexan@reddit
Right? I rarely get made in store products for this very reason…
jaslr4@reddit
🤮🤮🤮🤮🤮🤮🤮🤮🤮🤮
Accurate-Escape3259@reddit
I just called. They opened back up already. Nasty ahhh
ElleTopo@reddit
I drove past a few minutes ago and people were going in
nounthennumbers@reddit
Fernando Braro knows
Jameszhang73@reddit
Fernando has been on a mission lately closing down many restaurants
4playinplano@reddit
Yes.. most if not all of the shutdown in Plano in recent months have been signed by him. It’s intriguing because every place he shuts down had a or b inspections with a different inspector during the last round of inspections, yet many of the violations seem to be systemic or facility related things that would’ve taken years to manifest.
redthump@reddit
He's been on a mission to keep people from getting sick from poorly trained and managed establishments. It's not about the business, it's about public safety. Big distinction.
FunctionOk7124@reddit
I’m sure the mission isn’t to close the places. It when business think they can simply ignore or try to outsmart the inspector then more severe actions needs to be taken.
tellmemore321@reddit
Have you ever been in there. They have rotten veggies and fruits at discount price. Very unclean place.
Orzorn@reddit
Yeah, we avoided buying anything that wasn't pre-packaged there. Only place worse I've seen is the Carrollton Plaza Supermarket which was absolutely disgusting with visibly rotting fruits and vegetables and fruit flies flying around them. I've been in there multiple times and it only ever got marginally better at times. Moreover, H-Mart and 99 Ranch are just down the road so why would I subject myself to that anyway?
tellmemore321@reddit
I’m honestly surprised how Ztao is still open. Not like the prices are super cheap or anything.
cabej23@reddit
That explains the diarrhea
Roxablah@reddit
Just for everyone's peace of mind, the health department can shut you down if you have water backing up on the floor, if you have no hot water, or if you have no water at all. If you can't wash your hands or rinse dishes at the appropriate temp that's against health code too, they are probably fine!!!
Distribution-Radiant@reddit
IDK, I worked at HEB during the nasty winter storm in Feb 2021. We didn't even HAVE running water for over a week after we finally got power back. The store manager was kind enough to get a total of two portapotties for a store with \~500 employees that ran $3-4M a week..... I think some rules kinda got waived over that event though.
(Austin area at the time).
SoyEseVato@reddit
$3 - 4 Million a week?
CeleryStickBeating@reddit
$4M revenue/7 days=471,528 ($per day) / $100(per person) = 4,715 (people/day) / 12 (operation hours per day) = 392 people per hour. 10 checkout lanes means 39 purchase cycles per lane-hour, roughly 1 cycle every 1.5 minutes.
I'd say even $3M is a big, big stretch.
Snobolski@reddit
/r/theydidthemath
Distribution-Radiant@reddit
They're open more than 12 hours a day (most are 8a-11p, but it was 6a-1a when I worked there). The one I worked at had 22 checkout lanes, 8 self checkouts, and 3 Pay and Go.
Distribution-Radiant@reddit
Depends on the store, but yeah, a busy HEB can run those numbers in gross sales weekly.
HankFromArlenTX@reddit
To further be a wet blanket, a quick search of the health department website showed they scored a 55 last week on their inspection. That shit is nasty.
Distribution-Radiant@reddit
While 55 is really low, they must have had more than one failing inspection to get shut down.
Vaalarah@reddit
According to the city of Plano website none of their violations were repeat violations, but they didn't have any hand sinks at all in the food preparation areas (which is why they were shut down).
HankFromArlenTX@reddit
I like your optimism but they would have shut themselves down without the city forcing it if that’s the issue. Judging by the bugs in food posts from yelp, I’ll put my money on it being unsanitary.
Distribution-Radiant@reddit
Voluntary closure wouldn't get the sticker of shame on the door.
Roxablah@reddit
I wasn't aware of any other issues they had, just wanted to use the opportunity to inform because I work in an adjacent department to our Health department in municipal government
HolaDrNick@reddit
Mmmmm, I mean this statement seems contradictory. Unless it was intended ironically, which is REALLY hard to tell these days.
Roxablah@reddit
Sorry, I meant that their food is probably fine, I wrote this a little weird
FelixMumuHex@reddit
Looks like it violated the Code of Ordinances
Snobolski@reddit
I think it's because they were too clean and followed all the rules too well.
Distribution-Radiant@reddit
Looks like they failed multiple health inspections, or failed one REAL bad.
Health departments will give multiple warnings before forcing you to close unless things are horrible.
Vaalarah@reddit
Oh, it's bad. https://inspections.myhealthdepartment.com/plano/inspection/?inspectionID=F8D133CD-BA5C-4BF7-9A7D-B1C5918F2E5C
FuturePath6357@reddit
Seems like they violated the City of Plano Code of Ordinance
sabautil@reddit
Honestly I've been sick in some restaurants in Plano. Glad they are cracking down on bad businesses.
ekimmd24@reddit
Supposed to tell you on the notice if not it's not valid.
LandfillPanda@reddit
Maybe a better name would be FAFO?
Ashur_Bens_Pal@reddit
Nooooo!
Tintoverde@reddit
Look at who posted the flyer ( top left) and what that department do.
Empty-Size-5106@reddit
Entire store is closed??? Haven’t been there for a while. This is new low.
PM_ME_YER_MUDFLAPS@reddit
Every one who shops from the bao place will be in withdrawal.
TheWhimsyGoth@reddit
I’ve only been here once and I felt so uneasy and now I’m vindicated with seeing this
strog91@reddit
I mean, there’s only one reason the city would shut down a restaurant or grocery store, and that reason is health code violations
Swirls109@reddit
I'm not a city employee, but I don't think that is true at all. It could be electrical issues, building code violations, etc.
strog91@reddit
I’ve never heard of city building code inspectors doing spot inspections of an already-running business that isn’t in the process of renovating the building.
But if you’ve heard otherwise, kindly let me know.
Thesinistral@reddit
Here is an example: my relative owned a print shop and he wasn’t great about cleaning up the place. At times he would leave thousands of sheets of discarded paper all over the floor of the shop. Since his work also required flammable liquids it was a massive fire risk for the shopping center. He was checked by a fire inspector who threatened him with shutdown several times. I think he had to close down one time.
strog91@reddit
Sure, fire code inspections happen, but the person I was responding to said that it could’ve been a failed building code inspection, which seems highly unlikely for an already-running business that isn’t renovating the building.
Thesinistral@reddit
Ok, got it.
Etex1984@reddit
They get inspected by health and safety as well as fire code.
HankFromArlenTX@reddit
Not when it’s the health department listed on the notice
djokky@reddit
Is environmental health the same as health department? Genuine question.
HankFromArlenTX@reddit
In Plano, environmental health is responsible for restaurant inspections.
djokky@reddit
Got it. Thank you
HankFromArlenTX@reddit
It’s nasty. The answer is it’s nasty. 55 health score last week according to the city website
jimrx7@reddit
Call the number and that person will tell you why
BefuddledParrot@reddit
Go out to Plano.gov restaurant scores.