Health violations have closed Kohli's Indian Imports, a North Oakland grocery store specializing in Indian goods. Following a health department reinspection last Thursday, the Allegheny County Health Department enacted the law, requiring the store at 319 S. Craig Street to shut its doors after a consumer alert was first issued on December 3.
The shutdown follows grim findings. Inspections discovered violations that included rodent droppings scattered around the premises, chewed food packages that were shockingly still up for sale, and hot foods not maintained at the mandated safe temperatures. These conditions are alarming for any food service establishment and likewise concerning for customers who trust in the safety of their purchased products. Since that initial inspection, efforts to clean the house seemed to have fallen short. The issues persisted for almost two weeks when the reinspection occurred.
To shed light on the severity of the situation, WPXI reported that not only were the violations flagrantly unresolved, but there were findings of "chewed packaging and products" and "boxes used to store products with fresh and old dropping inside," indicating an ongoing rodent presence that the store had been unable to address effectively. Most disturbingly, these creatures had made their way into "containers used to store onions" and left droppings in the basement. However, the store reportedly made "significant progress removing rodent droppings" from several areas.
The knife blade was covered with dried food debris, a stark reminder of the grocer's shortcomings in maintaining cleanliness standards. Moreover, the store does not have the means to safely wash, rinse, and sanitize equipment or utensils, a basic expectation for any food-related business. Meanwhile, WTAE added that there were serious concerns regarding the "cleaning and sanitation of utensils and washing equipment," further underscoring the necessity of the closure dictated by the ACHD—a move intended to safeguard public health.
