Four Weld County food inspections required re-inspection Sept. 6-12

The Weld County Department of Public Health and Environment recorded 34 retail food inspections from Sept. 6-12, 2026. Of those, 30 received a Pass, four received Re-Inspection Required and none resulted in Closure. The department grades inspections as Pass, Re-Inspection Required or Closure based on the points recorded by its inspector.

Required a re-inspection

TORTILLERIA LA ESMERALDA (Chip Shop)-COMMISSARY, Greeley, was inspected Sept. 10 and scored 102, Re-Inspection Required. The inspection found that employees did not demonstrate knowledge of food safety practices; raw eggs, sausage and bacon were stored above ready-to-eat foods; gloves were not changed between handling dirty and clean dishes; equipment and food containers were not being sanitized or used appropriately; and salsa was not cooled properly. Nearly 50 containers of salsa prepared the previous night measured 43 degrees Fahrenheit, while newer salsa and a large pot measured 52 degrees. The inspector also found cooked potatoes and pork left at room temperature, frozen vegetables thawing at room temperature, a missing air gap at a sink and non-food-safe containers used for masa. The record says eight violations from the previous inspection were corrected. The department requires a re-inspection.

CON AZUCAR OLD SCHOOL MEXICAN RESTAURANT, Greeley, was inspected Sept. 10 and scored 65, Re-Inspection Required. The person in charge did not have a certified food protection manager present. The inspection also found an employee handling raw chicken and beef, changing gloves without washing hands and then handling ready-to-eat green onions; raw and cooked foods stored together or in the wrong order; cooked rice at 58 degrees in a deep container; watermelon at 64 degrees; hot foods between 109 and 132 degrees; cold foods between 44 and 45 degrees; and foods held past discard dates or without required date marks. The rice, watermelon and other foods were moved or reheated during the inspection, and the birria broth was discarded. The record says violations numbered 13 and 16 from the previous inspection were corrected. The department requires a re-inspection.

VICKY RANCH MUNCHIES, Ault, was inspected Sept. 9 and scored 55, Re-Inspection Required. The record says the person in charge did not have a certified food protection manager, could not provide certification at the time of inspection, or the certified food protection manager was not present. The inspector found cooked corn prepared in a private home, a rotten mango with insects, nacho cheese at 44-45 degrees, and foods held beyond the discard date or without date marks. The corn, mango, cheese and watermelon were discarded, and the other foods were date-marked during the inspection. The department requires a re-inspection.

DUTCH BROS COFFEE, Greeley, was inspected Sept. 11 and scored 52, Re-Inspection Required. Employee beverages, including some without lids, were stored on a prep table; an employee touched customer lids without washing hands after coming inside; the three-compartment sink had no measurable sanitizer while dishes were being washed; and utensils and equipment were not consistently sanitized. The inspector also observed more than 50 flies, bees and wasps inside the facility, including on food-preparation surfaces, syrup containers and utensils, while both drive-thru windows remained open. Saturated wiping cloths were stored on prep tables, coffee machines and utensils instead of in sanitizer buckets. The sanitizer was remade, contaminated items were sanitized and sanitizer buckets were obtained during the inspection. The record says no violations from the previous inspection were corrected. The department requires a re-inspection.

Passed with a score of 40 or more

EL TACORRIENDO, a mobile unit, was inspected Sept. 9 and scored 40, Pass. The inspector found that the person in charge did not have a certified food protection manager, could not provide certification at the time of inspection, or the certified food protection manager was not present. Raw eggs were stored above cooked beans, cheese measured 48 degrees in a cooler, several foods lacked date marks and cooked chicharrones were held beyond the discard date. More than a dozen living flies were inside the unit and landing on food-contact surfaces. The eggs were moved, the cheese was cooled to 41 degrees by the end of the inspection, foods were date-marked, the chicharrones were discarded and the exterior door was closed. The record says violations numbered 3, 5 and 8 from the previous inspection were corrected.

FIRST WATCH RESTAURANTS #425, Windsor, was inspected Sept. 9 and scored 40, Pass. The inspector found an employee rinsing hands in a three-compartment sink after handling dirty dishes and then putting away clean dishes, an employee continuing food preparation after touching clothing with gloves, and raw sausage stored on the same tray as packaged cooked beef. Tomatoes, pico and turkey lunch meat measured 47-48 degrees in the walk-in cooler, and the hand sink near the dish room had no cold water, measuring 116 degrees. The employee was instructed to wash hands at the designated sink, the sausage was moved, foods were placed in smaller containers and the sink's cold-water pressure was adjusted during the inspection. The record says violations numbered 22 and 33 from the previous inspection were corrected.

LOS COMALES MARKET, Greeley, was inspected Sept. 10 and scored 40, Pass. Three 5-gallon buckets of salsa prepared the previous night measured 54-62 degrees and were discarded. More than 100 milk jugs delivered two hours earlier measured 44-46 degrees in the walk-in cooler; the milk was moved to the freezer, and a technician examined the cooler during the inspection. Unopened baby shampoo, lotion and soap were stored above baby formula, which was moved to a higher shelf. The record says violations numbered 2, 10, 15 and 51 from the previous inspection were corrected.

PELICAN JO'S WEST LLC, Milliken, was inspected Sept. 9 and scored 40, Pass. An employee entered the kitchen from the register and put on gloves without washing hands; precooked chicken and roast beef held more than 24 hours lacked date marks; sanitizer used on food-preparation surfaces measured above 500 parts per million of quaternary ammonia; and chicken was thawing in a prep sink without running water at 55 degrees. The inspector also found an improperly configured spray nozzle on a mop sink and personal items on a prep sink drainboard and prep line. The employee washed hands, foods were date-marked, the sanitizer was diluted, the chicken was refrigerated, the spray nozzle was removed and personal items were moved during the inspection. The record says violation 16 from the previous inspection was corrected.

THE BLUE MUG COFFEE BAR, Greeley, was inspected Sept. 10 and scored 40, Pass. The record says the person in charge did not have a certified food protection manager, could not provide certification at the time of inspection, or the certified food protection manager was not present. Ham, sliced tomatoes and turkey lunch meat lacked required date marks or had incorrect dates. Grab-and-go pastries did not have food labels, and single-use cups and lids were stored beneath a handwashing sink. The food was date-marked, the pastries were moved out of customers' reach and the cups and lids were moved during the inspection.