SF Armenian Cultural Center Fails with Rodent Droppings

Health inspectors discovered rodent droppings scattered around the dishwasher and toxic bait blocks on the floor during a routine inspection at Armenian Cultural Center in Parkside, resulting in a failed health inspection that exposed serious food safety violations. The September 25 inspection at 825 Brotherhood Way revealed a disturbing scene where rodent droppings were found on the floor around the mechanical dishwasher and on top of the container holding sanitizing solution for the dishwasher. Even more alarming, inspectors discovered approximately five uncontainerized green rodent bait blocks scattered on the floor underneath the dishwashing area, creating a toxic hazard in the food preparation zone.

Critical Health Violations Found

The inspection uncovered 10 total violations, including two critical infractions that pose immediate health risks to customers. Beyond the rodent infestation, inspectors observed an employee eating in the kitchen while actively preparing food, directly violating health code requirements that mandate eating occur in areas separate from food preparation zones. Multiple handwashing violations compounded the health risks. Inspectors documented food employees washing their hands while wearing gloves, handling dirty dishes before putting on gloves without washing hands, touching their faces and then touching food without proper handwashing, and continuing food preparation while eating without removing gloves. The facility's handwashing infrastructure proved inadequate, with paper towels positioned behind the handwashing sink, causing water to drip onto preparation surfaces. The liquid soap dispenser was difficult to operate, requiring users to lift the pump top, discouraging proper handwashing practices.

Food Storage and Safety Concerns

Inspectors found dangerous cross-contamination risks with raw chicken stored on refrigeration shelves above vegetables. Food items were improperly stored on the floor in the walk-in freezer, and cut carrots were prepared before washing rather than after, violating basic food safety protocols. The facility lacked standalone thermometers in upright refrigeration units, preventing proper temperature monitoring of potentially hazardous foods. A plumbing violation was also cited when inspectors found ice machine piping directly connected to a floor sink without the required one-inch air gap to prevent backflow contamination.

Inspection History and Consequences

This failure represents the beginning of a troubling pattern for the Armenian establishment near Stonestown Muni. This inspection was followed by a failed reinspection in November, indicating the facility struggled to address the serious violations identified by health officials. The rodent infestation poses severe health risks to diners, as mice produce up to 50 droppings daily containing dangerous pathogens including Salmonella and hantavirus. The presence of toxic bait blocks in food preparation areas creates additional contamination risks that could directly impact customer safety. The restaurant was ordered to immediately contact pest control services and provide documentation of remediation efforts to inspectors. The facility must address all critical violations before reopening to ensure customer safety in this Parkside dining establishment. Health officials emphasized that the combination of rodent infestation, improper food handling, and inadequate sanitation practices created an environment where foodborne illness transmission was highly likely, putting every customer at risk during their dining experience.