Health department cites China Garden for customers’ use of buffet

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

The Columbia/Boone County health department cited China Garden on Clark Lane for allegedly breaking the city's pandemic health order.

A notice of violation from the health department said the restaurant is accused of allowing customers to serve themselves.

Health department workers said customers were seen using the buffet line and a self-serve ice cream machine during a visit on Jan. 14.

In the department's original coronavirus health order, it mandates that restaurants are barred from allowing customers to serve themselves.

"Self-service operations such as salad bars, buffets and beverage service stations that require customers to use shared utensils or dispensers will not be allowed at this time. These services will remain closed at this time," the health department said in its guidance for eateries.

ABC 17 News reached out to the restaurant for a comment on the citation but did not hear back as of Thursday afternoon.

A recent inspection on the same day as the citation also mentioned customers were seen using the buffet. The report said inspectors also found multiple critical violations; mold growing in an ice machine, raw fish and chicken being stored above cooked meat, no paper towels at a hand sink.

Inspectors included that an employee was seen washing off gloved hands and then proceeding onto other work without changing the gloves. The health department said food workers are supposed to change gloves between tasks.