Whole Foods fails county health inspection

By JENNIFER HUFFMAN
Register Business Writer

Napa’s new Whole Foods received an F grade in its first county food facility inspection.

The market’s sheer size and diversity of offerings may have contributed towards the failing grade, which Whole Foods took steps to fix “immediately,” said store manager David Cosper.

The report, dated Jan. 31, details 16 inspection categories that were out of compliance, including three major violations.

The major violations, which must be corrected immediately, included improper hand washing and use of gloves at a hot counter area, improper hot and cold holding temperatures in several food areas and lack of availability of hot or cold water at two sinks. Other violations included improper handling of food and food storage, uncovered containers and missing sneeze guards.

“Surprised” when he heard of the market’s failing grade, Cosper said the store has taken steps to fix the failures.

“Eighty percent of everything on this list we either corrected on the spot or within 24 hours of the inspection,” he said. “The other 20 percent are construction issues or structural issues,” which are being addressed.

Since the first inspection, “we added hourly sanitation walks through the store by our leadership team. We replaced and recalibrated all temperature gauges in the store. We’ve re-inspected all refrigeration and heating equipment.”

New team members are being trained to understand “strict sanitation standards and operating procedures.”

Shopping or eating at Whole Foods does not present an immediate health and safety issue, said Steve Lederer, director of the Napa County Department of Environmental Management.

“Any immediate issues of health and safety to the public were immediately resolved,” said Lederer, for example, discarding food held at improper temperatures.

The market stocks 25,000 to 30,000 items and offers a number of prepared food stations and demonstration areas.

With “10 times more things going on than a standard restaurant,” Whole Foods may be the most challenging facility they review, said Lederer.

The more areas to inspect, the more likely a loss of one and two points can add up to a failing grade, said County Environmental Management Coordinator Ruben Oropeza. “It may not be representative about what’s going on completely.”

Fifty-two points were deducted on the inspection report, with some of the biggest markdowns accumulating from improper hot and cold holding temperatures, missing sneeze guards, and improper separation between stored and cooked foods.

According to Lederer, a food facility losing one to nine points in an inspection report receives an A grade. A B grade is given when 10 to 19 points are lost, a C for 20 to 29 points lost, and an F if 30 or more points are deducted.

Cosper said after the inspection he realized the store should have applied for multiple permits within the market.

“Had we done the correct permitting we probably wouldn’t have gotten the score we got,” said Cosper. Separate permits would have applied violatons to each of the permitted areas, instead of adding together for an overall deduction.

Each food facility annual operating permit costs $945 a year, Lederer said. A store with a bakery, cafe or sushi bar can apply for a permit for each.

In Whole Foods’ case, applying for separate permits “certainly would have helped them,” said Lederer, however, “The issues are still real.”

“(Whole Foods) had a number of things they need to work on. ... They are genuinely concerned and interested in resolving the issues,” said Lederer.

“We think they can get their arms around what they need to do, and certainly improve from that last inspection,” said Lederer. “We will keep an eye on them until they do.”

Any facility receiving a C grade or worse is automatically re-inspected within 30 to 60 days. Whole Foods will be re-inspected within the next two to three weeks, said Lederer.

A failing grade in a food facility inspection is uncommon. The county reviews every food facility in the county annually, said Lederer. Of the 700 food facilities reviewed last year, more than 96 percent received A or B grades, said Lederer. Less than 1 percent received an F grade.

Food facility inspection reports are available online at www.co.napa.ca.us/emd-pub/consumer/search.aspx, however to date, the site has yet to upload Whole Foods’ inspection report.

Whole Foods is known for its all-natural and organic foods free of artificial preservatives, colors, flavors, sweeteners and hydrogenated oils. The Bel Aire Plaza store opened on Jan. 16 to intense local anticipation.

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