The Global Food Pittsburgh grocery store on Penn Avenue in Wilkinsburg was ordered closed by the Allegheny County Health Department this week after an inspector found numerous serious food safety violations, including food contaminated with insects and rodent droppings.
In addition to nesting material in a bag of rice, the department found multiple chewed bags of rice, flour, peas and cornmeal with live and dead bugs inside.
“Tape on chew holes of various products throughout the store on shelves,” the inspection report noted.
“Rodent droppings observed on the floor throughout the facility as well as on product and most shelves.”
Other problems included lack of a handwashing sink in the food preparation area, lack of a probe thermometer and failure to clean and sanitize equipment and utensils.
The phone number for the store was out of service Friday.
Inspection reports for food facilities in the county are available at https://eapps.alleghenycounty.us/restaurant/.
Patricia Sabatini
Patricia is a business reporter at the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, but she's currently on strike. Email her at psabatini@unionprogress.com.