Paris Banh Mi in Loveland Fails Health Inspection, Requires Re-Inspection
Paris Banh Mi at 1753 Rocky Mountain Ave in Loveland received a failing score of 75 points during a September 18 health inspection, triggering a mandatory re-inspection due to multiple food safety violations including improper food temperatures and cross-contamination issues.
The Vietnamese sandwich shop, which specializes in bánh mì sandwiches and French pastries, was cited for several critical violations that could pose health risks to customers. Health inspectors found ready-to-eat foods being held at unsafe temperatures and observed staff handling raw meat and ready-to-eat vegetables without proper hand washing between tasks.
The most serious violation involved a staff member who was observed portioning raw beef while wearing gloves, then switching to handle ready-to-eat bean sprouts and cilantro after only changing gloves without washing hands. This cross-contamination risk prompted inspectors to require the disposal of contaminated ready-to-eat foods valued at less than $10. The staff member subsequently followed proper procedures by washing hands, putting on new gloves, and replating the food items.
Temperature control violations posed additional health risks during the inspection. Inspectors found pate being held at 119 degrees Fahrenheit in a steam table, well below the required 135-degree minimum for hot-held foods. The restaurant's main sandwich preparation cooler was also malfunctioning, with sliced pork products found at temperatures between 48 and 53 degrees Fahrenheit instead of the required 41 degrees or below for cold storage.
Staff told inspectors that all food items had been placed in the malfunctioning cooler within two to three hours of the inspection and that a replacement unit was scheduled to arrive the following week. All temperature-controlled items were moved to properly functioning standing coolers behind the cook line to return to safe temperatures. The establishment was ordered to discontinue using the broken make table cooler for storing any temperature-controlled foods until the replacement arrives.
Additional violations included a soiled ice machine interior that was cleaned and sanitized during the inspection, and missing written procedures for bodily fluid cleanup and time-controlled food handling. Staff provided the required written procedures during the inspection.
The restaurant operates Monday and Wednesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. It is closed on Tuesdays. Paris Banh Mi offers dine-in and takeout service, serving Vietnamese bánh mì sandwiches, French bakery pastries, and beverages in what customers describe as a clean, modern setting.
Under Larimer County's health inspection scoring system, the 75-point score falls within the 50-109 range that requires re-inspection to ensure basic food safety standards are met. The establishment must demonstrate correction of all violations before receiving approval to continue normal operations without restrictions.
The restaurant remains open and operational while working to address the violations identified in the inspection report. A follow-up inspection will be conducted to verify that all food safety issues have been properly corrected.