SOMA Ice Cream Shop Gets Conditional Pass Despite Rodent Issues

Icicles, the ice cream roll shop located at 829 Mission Street in SOMA, received a conditional pass during its November 13 health inspection despite multiple violations requiring immediate attention. The ice cream establishment can continue serving customers while addressing rodent droppings and sanitation issues identified by health inspectors. During this inspection, health officials discovered rodent droppings near the water heater and throughout the back storage room, marking the most serious violation requiring prompt pest control measures. The facility must provide pest control reports within seven days and email documentation to the inspector to demonstrate remediation efforts.

Sanitation Violations Corrected On-Site

Inspectors found the establishment operating without proper sanitizer solution, a critical violation for food safety in any ice cream operation. The person in charge immediately prepared fresh sanitizer solution and tested it with appropriate test strips, allowing this violation to be marked as corrected on-site during the inspection. Water access issues also emerged when inspectors discovered one handwashing sink had its water valves turned off to supply water to the ice cream roll machine. This practice compromises hand hygiene protocols essential for food service operations. The facility must discontinue this practice and maintain hot water at minimum 100 degrees Fahrenheit to all handwashing sinks at all times.

Food Storage and Chemical Safety Concerns

Food storage violations included raw eggs stored above ready-to-eat items in the two-door reach-in refrigerator. Poultry products must always be stored below ready-to-eat foods to prevent cross-contamination. Staff relocated the egg carton to the bottom shelf during the inspection, resolving this issue immediately. Chemical safety presented another concern when inspectors found an unlabeled Windex spray bottle placed next to ready-to-eat bananas on the food preparation table. This violation highlights the importance of proper chemical labeling and storage away from food preparation areas in busy SOMA establishments.

Operational and Administrative Issues

The inspection revealed operational problems including clutter and unused equipment in the back storage room that could provide harborage for vermin. Staff must remove unnecessary items to eliminate potential hiding places for rodents and other pests. Personal items found in food preparation areas violated food safety protocols designed to prevent contamination. Personal drink containers and other belongings must be stored away from food preparation zones to maintain sanitary conditions. Administrative compliance issues included unpaid license fees, which must be resolved within 72 hours. The facility received a copy of the invoice and must send proof of payment to designated health department officials.

Continued Operations with Monitoring

Despite these violations, Icicles can continue serving customers near Civic Center BART while implementing required corrections. The conditional pass status allows the business to operate while addressing identified issues, demonstrating the health department's recognition that violations are correctable without posing immediate public health risks. The establishment has no previous inspection history on record, making this the first documented health department evaluation. Management must focus on establishing consistent food safety practices and maintaining proper sanitation protocols to ensure future compliance. Follow-up inspections will verify completion of pest control measures and implementation of corrected procedures throughout the facility.