The Carnegie community recently faced the closure of Rahma Grocery on East Main Street after public health inspectors cited several critical violations that posed immediate health risks. According to an inspection report obtained by WPXI, the Allegheny County Health Department declared the grocery store a health hazard due to an "active German roach infestation," with several dead cockroaches discovered across various areas that were too numerous to count.
Inspectors noted two high-risk violations on January 2: cleaning, sanitation, and pest management issues. One particular concern was the store’s meat saw, which, according to the health department, was visibly soiled with multiple different types of meat, including raw fish and raw beef. The store operator reportedly claimed to have a monthly pest control service, however, invoices for these services were not provided upon request, this lapse in protocol raises concerns about the veracity of their pest management efforts.
Another critical issue highlighted was the lack of hot water, resulting in an order to halt food processing as of December 30. In defiance of this command, the store operators were allegedly found continuing food processing operations at the time of reinspection, as per CBS News Pittsburgh. Chronic food debris on retail shelves and an improperly maintained walk-in freezer, with a temperature of 40F, were among the other violations that added to the store's woes.
