What the inspection categories mean
The most serious findings, classified as priority item violations, carry a 72-hour correction deadline. Establishments have 10 days to correct priority foundation violations and 90 days for core violations, the two less severe categories. The Connecticut Post's monthly reports generally do not detail core violations.
Connecticut began enforcing the U.S. FDA Model Food Code on Feb. 17, 2023. According to the Greenwich Department of Health, its three violation categories replaced a 100-point demerit system under which a score below 80, or a single 4-point violation, meant an inspection failure.
September's results follow several months with differing inspection totals. In August, inspectors cited 12 establishments after 29 inspections. Reports from CT Insider and Yahoo News showed 18 establishments with 34 serious violations across 41 inspections in May, followed by 24 establishments with 87 serious violations across 35 inspections in June.
Separately, a March 2026 Connecticut Epidemiologist analysis by the state Department of Public Health and Yale's Emerging Infections Program reported 1,871 foodborne illness cases statewide in 2023. That was the highest annual total during 2018–2023, with an incidence of 51.89 per 100,000 people. Campylobacter and Salmonella were the most frequently reported pathogens.
Assisted living and rehabilitation facilities
Sunrise at Fairfield, at 1571 Stratfield Road, received seven priority item citations. Inspectors found problems with knife washing, hot holding of food, cooling chicken soup, glove use and hand-washing, and cold holding of fruit. They also cited food kept beyond seven days and a dishwasher that was not dispensing sanitizer.
The assisted living facility also received seven priority foundation citations, including missing bleach-sanitizer test strips and a lack of paper towels at a hand sink, along with 11 core citations. Facility officials did not answer an email seeking comment.
At Cambridge Manor, a health and rehabilitation center at 2428 Easton Turnpike, storing raw chicken next to pork resulted in one priority item citation. Inspectors recorded two priority foundation violations as well, including a hand sink without soap or paper towels. An official did not reply to an emailed request for comment.
Carolton, the nursing and rehabilitation facility at 400 Mill Plain Road, received a priority item citation because food on its sandwich line was at the wrong temperature. Using a hand sink for storage accounted for its one priority foundation citation.
A Carolton official said the temperature finding concerned a satellite kitchen serving employees, not nursing home residents. The food was discarded during the inspection, the official said, and the facility introduced a new policy and additional controls for that kitchen to help prevent a recurrence. The official also said the facility takes food safety seriously.
Connecticut's food code places establishments serving a "highly susceptible population" in Class 4, with stricter requirements, according to the Greenwich Department of Health. The category includes preschools, child care facilities, adult day care, hospitals, long-term care facilities and nursing homes. Such establishments cannot serve raw or undercooked foods such as raw fish, rare steak or sunny-side-up eggs.
School and university food service
Catamount Food Service, the kitchen operator at Fairfield College Preparatory School, 1073 North Benson Road, received one priority item citation for salad that was not held properly at a cold temperature. Three priority foundation citations included a lack of paper towels at a hand sink.
School officials said they immediately addressed the salad-holding problem and put corrective measures in place. They said the health and safety of students, faculty and staff is a top priority.
At Fairfield Woods Middle School, 1115 Fairfield Woods, inspectors issued one priority item citation for a serving line without sneeze guards. An inaccurate thermometer in the hot boxes was among two priority foundation violations. District officials said staff worked to keep food properly covered and that the issue had been resolved.
Pio's, at Sacred Heart University, 3135 Easton Turnpike, received one priority item citation for insufficient sanitizer strength in its buckets. Inspectors also recorded two priority foundation violations, including buckets without sanitizer labels. University spokeswoman Kimberly Swartz said the priority item violation was corrected during the inspection.
Restaurant findings with three or more priority item citations
Bodega Taco Bar, 1700 Post Road, received six priority item citations. Temperature problems involved chorizo that had to be discarded, other foods held at the wrong temperature, and a garlic-and-oil mixture that had not been cooled properly. Inspectors also found three sanitizer-strength problems: bleach in a dish machine and sanitizer in a bucket were too weak, while bleach spray for food-contact surfaces was too strong. A kitchen preparation cooler that was not working was among two priority foundation violations.
Manager Mario Fontana said most violations are corrected immediately and that staff and outside vendors had addressed the others. "We are in close touch with the Fairfield health inspector regarding the most recent inspection," he said. "Bodega Taco Bar takes food safety seriously."
Fontana said daily checklists allow the restaurant to take corrective action as soon as a problem is identified. He also said Bodega employs a private consultant to conduct inspections focused on educating staff.
Four priority item citations at Luigi's, 170 Post Road, concerned sauce cooling, cold holding of food, hand-washing procedures, and serving undercooked foods that were not permitted to be served that way. Inspectors issued five priority foundation citations, including one for improperly thawing fish. A manager did not return a phone message seeking comment.
Puerto Vallarta, 2000 Black Rock Turnpike, also received four priority item citations. Inspectors found no prepared sanitizer for food-contact surfaces, improper hot holding of both caramelized onions and rice, and salsa at an improper temperature. Its nine priority foundation violations included a hand sink without soap and a hand sink used for storage. Inspectors also recorded 11 core violations. An emailed request for comment to a manager went unanswered.
At Primo Pizza, 2424 Black Rock Turnpike, inspectors cited three priority items: chemicals stored with food, improper cold holding, and food kept for more than seven days. The restaurant also received six priority foundation citations, including a hand sink without soap. A manager did not reply to an email seeking comment.
Other restaurants and cafes cited
Both priority item citations at Jersey Mike's, 2189 Black Rock Turnpike, involved sanitizer buckets with concentrations that were too weak. A manager said the problem had been fixed.
Hole in the Wall, 653 Post Road, received two priority item citations: one for knife washing and another for shredded cheese held at an improper temperature in the salad preparation cooler. The cheese was discarded. Among three priority foundation violations were using a hand sink to rinse a rag and knife, and a salad preparation cooler that could not maintain its temperature. A manager did not answer an emailed request for comment.
Inspectors issued Taj Indian, 1879 Black Rock Turnpike, two priority item citations after finding cooked chicken stored with raw protein and sanitizer that was too weak. Unlabeled spray bottles were among its two priority foundation violations. A manager did not respond to an email seeking comment.
At The Bagel, 1242 Stratfield Road, the two priority item findings involved an improper sanitizing procedure while washing a knife and bleach sanitizer that was too strong. Thawing raw chicken at room temperature was among two priority foundation violations. A phone message seeking comment from a manager was not returned.
Wichday, 808 Post Road, received one priority item citation for the concentration of sanitizer in a bucket and one priority foundation citation for food labeling. A manager said staff corrected the sanitizer concentration immediately during the inspection. The manager said all issues had been rectified, the establishment was within the proper guidelines and staff takes food safety seriously.
Starbucks, 1740 Post Road, received a priority item citation for improper sanitation and a priority foundation citation because a hand sink lacked soap. A company official did not reply to an emailed request for comment.
