The Lane County Health Department has flagged two area restaurants for failing recent health inspections, posting scores of 50 and 51 that require formal reassessment and possible administrative action. Eduardo’s Taco Shop received a score of 50 and Tio Pepe Mexican Restaurant scored 51 during inspections conducted in early September.
What failing means and next steps
Under the county’s scoring system, establishments are graded on a 100-point scale. Scores of 70 or higher are considered compliant, and restaurants that score below 70 must be reinspected within 30 days or face closure or other administrative action. Points are deducted for priority and priority foundation violations — five points for a priority violation and three for a priority foundation violation — and repeat violations on consecutive inspections result in doubled deductions.
“Scores of 70 or higher are considered compliant. Restaurants scoring below 70 must be reinspected within 30 days or face closure or other administrative action.”
The two Mexican restaurants were cited for multiple issues, including improper glove use, dishwashers not reaching required sanitizing temperatures and warm potentially hazardous foods stored in refrigerators. Those sorts of findings typically lead to priority or priority foundation point deductions.
Local inspection snapshot
The Lane County Health Department conducts unannounced inspections twice a year for licensed restaurants. Inspections focus on food temperatures, preparation practices, worker hygiene, dishwashing and sanitizing, and cleanliness of equipment and facilities.
Several other local establishments were reported in the same inspection round. Some narrowly avoided failing, while others had high scores. Violations ranged from improper food storage order and employee beverages in food-preparation areas to unlabeled chemicals.
- Eduardo’s Taco Shop — Score: 50 (failed; reassessment required)
- Tio Pepe Mexican Restaurant — Score: 51 (failed; reassessment required)
- Kento, Sushi Ya, and Chen’s Family Dish — Came close to failing for issues such as improper food storage order and unlabeled chemicals.
The public display of inspection results is required; restaurants post a placard by the entrance indicating whether they passed their last inspection. Consumers can use that information to make dining decisions, and the department uses reinspections and administrative measures to ensure compliance.
Scores from the recent round
| Establishment | Location | Date | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eduardo’s Taco Shop | Eugene | Sept. 3 | 50 |
| Tio Pepe Mexican Restaurant | Eugene | Sept. 3 | 51 |
| Kento | Eugene | Sept. 3 | Close to failing |
| Sushi Ya | Eugene | Sept. 3 | Close to failing |
| Chen’s Family Dish | Eugene | Sept. 3 | Close to failing |
| The Quick Fix Coffee Co | 2517 Willamette St., Eugene | Sept. 3 | 95 |
| Kona Ice (mobile) | Eugene (mobile) | Sept. 3 | 97 |
The Quick Fix Coffee Co. and Kona Ice were among the higher-scoring operations in the same reporting period, each with scores in the mid- to high-90s. The Quick Fix Coffee Co. lost points when an inspector noted a refrigerator had frozen over and was out of its safe temperature range; inspectors determined no hazardous foods were stored in that unit, resulting in a five-point deduction. Kona Ice received a 97 on its inspection.
Restaurants that narrowly avoided failing were cited for issues that included improper food storage order (which can lead to cross-contamination), employees drinking beverages in food-prep areas, and unlabeled chemicals kept in the kitchen. Those conditions typically prompt corrective action during follow-up visits.
Lane County’s program is intended to reduce foodborne illness by ensuring compliance with temperature controls, hygienic practices and proper sanitation. Residents with concerns about a specific establishment can check placards at business entrances or contact the Lane County Health Department for details about inspection records and reinspection schedules.
