Contra Costa environmental health officials launched a new investigation after NBC Bay Area uncovered potential raw meat handling issues at 99 Ranch Market in Richmond.
NBC Bay Area received a photo taken in November from a person who says he works closely with 99 Ranch Market in Richmond. The photo shows raw, unwrapped meat stacked in a pile on a platform found on the ground behind 99 Ranch Market. [[471364074, C]]
Contra Costa environmental health inspectors are now investigating the case and have also notified the USDA. According to Contra Costa’s environmental health director, the most recent inspection of Richmond 99 Ranch Market was on Jan. 24.
“During that inspection, the market received a yellow placard and had violations that included not proper washing of hands; several violations of proper hot and cold temperatures, unpackaged meat in contact with the floor and several violations of food contact with surfaces not being cleaned and sanitized,” Environmental Health Director Dr. Marilyn Underwood said about Richmond’s 99 Ranch Market inspection. [[471702193, C]]
A spokesperson for Contra Costa Health Services explained that an inspector was sent out to Richmond’s 99 Ranch Market on Tuesday and will also send out an inspector to Concord’s 99 Ranch Market to check up on their practices as well.
Richmond’s 99 Ranch Market said it is investigating the most recent allegations and would not provide the name of its meat vendor. [[471546723, C]]
The investigation comes days after NBC Bay Area uncovered photos of people transporting raw meat in shopping carts at 99 Ranch Market in San Jose. In that case, 99 Ranch said it was an isolated case with the vendor, and the meat handlers have been fired. [[471364304, C]]
