Lonigro’s Supermarket working to correct numerous health violations that has store closed until corrected

By Linda Trest, Staff Writer
Posted 6/17/20

The Franklin County Health Department (FCHD) issued five pages of health violations against Lonigro’s Supermarket last week. The store was closed, and will remain so, until the …

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Lonigro’s Supermarket working to correct numerous health violations that has store closed until corrected

Posted

The Franklin County Health Department (FCHD) issued five pages of health violations against Lonigro’s Supermarket last week. The store was closed, and will remain so, until the “critical” violations are corrected.

The report begins, “Due to numerous critical violations the establishment must be closed and remain closed until approved by the FCHD.”

Several of the critical violations refer to coolers that will not cool down enough to allow for safe storage.

Other critical items include: open alcohol containers in meat room, grinder in meat room was contaminated while using, chemicals stored and labeled improperly in meat processing room, employees admit they work while intoxicated, drain clean out in meat room clogged and collecting water,  personal food items stored in meat room, cooked meats not dated and labeled properly, retail pest control agents used rather than professional.

The report noted that perishable food held at improper temperatures must be voluntarily discarded.

Other violations noted damaged/missing ceiling and floor tiles, no towels at hand sink, rusty surfaces on shelves and doors, lights not working, leaking coolers and ice build up.

Owner Larry Lonigro says he asked the inspectors to go over the store well and let him know every single thing that needed correcting. It appears that is what they did.   

One of the inspectors, Keith Brake, said the store was inspected the prior, due to two complaints. Last Wednesday, they did a follow up inspection to make sure those issues were resolved. They decided to do a routine inspection while they were there.

Inspectors will return today, June 17, to check on progress.

The store may be allowed to reopen without everything on the list getting fixed. For example, if one dairy case is running correctly, it can be used. Any cooler not working correctly would have to remain unused.

Brake referred all questions to Presiding Commissioner Tim Brinker, as the public information officer for  the FCHD.

Brinker answered few specific questions, choosing instead to praise the FCHD. “This is a statement of credibility of the health department to keep Franklin County safe,” he said of the five-page report. “Kudos, hats off and congratulations to them,” he went on noting their efforts allow the county to be served by responsible food providers. 

Monday evening, several people were in the store helping to get things in shape. Power cords snaked through the aisles as repairs and cleaning was going on throughout the store.

While the store may not be ready to open today, the efforts will continue to get Gerald’s only grocery up and running again.