More health violations at Chinatown eatery
Joy Tsin Lau, the Chinatown eatery where 100 lawyers and law students were sickened in February, received another scorching helping of criticism last week from the city Health Department.
Joy Tsin Lau, the Chinatown eatery where 100 lawyers and law students were sickened in February, received another scorching helping of criticism last week from the city Health Department.
The dim sum restaurant "does not have adequate refrigeration equipment [or the] capacity to maintain all refrigerated foods at a temperature of 41 degrees or below," inspector Thomas Kolb wrote Thursday.
Temperatures over 41 degrees promote the rapid growth of potentially toxic bacteria. In his report, Kolb wrote that jellyfish, duck, and bean sprouts were being stored at temperatures of 50 degrees or more at Joy Tsin Lau.
The inspector also cited the restaurant for two additional serious risk factors - an employee eating in the kitchen prep area and another who did not follow proper hand-washing protocols - and seven lesser infractions.
Joy Tsin Lau's attorney did not immediately reply to a request for comment.
Inspection reports show that Joy Tsin Lau has chronically failed to maintain basic food-safety standards. The Health Department has cited the restaurant repeatedly for not keeping foods at appropriate temperatures.
During the last decade, the city has filed numerous lawsuits threatening to shut down Joy Tsin Lau, but the restaurant has remained in business. The city has withdrawn each legal action after the Health Department declared the restaurant in compliance.
Other than asking Joy Tsin Lau to close for several hours following the food poisoning, the Health Department has taken no disciplinary action.
"The objective of the process is to bring an establishment into compliance with the regulations," said Jeff Moran, a Health Department spokesman.
Joy Tsin Lau was inspected eight times in 2015.
"If the establishment does not correct violations that are cited during the inspection, it will continue to be re-inspected, be required to return to court, and pay additional costs," Moran said.
"If, at any time, it is determined that conditions exist that are an immediate threat to the public health, the restaurant would be asked to close, first voluntarily, and then, if necessary, through a formal cease and desist order."
The restaurant is scheduled for a hearing Tuesday in Common Pleas Court.
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