Health Inspection Information

The inspection history for the business you selected is displayed below. Each inspection may have zero or more violations. A health inspection report is a "snapshot" of the day and time of the inspection. On any given day, an establishment could have more or fewer violations than noted here. Inspections are based on regulations to eliminate risk factors for illness or injury. Every violation is coded indicating the degree of risk in causing an illness or injury.

  • Critical, Major, or Foodborne Illness Risk Factor Violations: These violations are more likely than other violations to contribute to illness or injury. Inspectors work with operators to make sure that these violations are corrected whenever feasible before they leave the establishment. A re-inspection may be scheduled to verify compliance.
  • Non-Critical, Minor or Good Retail Practice Violations: These violations are not directly related to the cause of illness or injury, but if uncorrected, could negatively affect the operation of the facility, such as maintenance and cleanliness.

Please Note: Tri-County converted to a new database in July 2013. Any inspections listed prior to July 2013 only display the date and type of inspection, but not the inspector comments because of the database conversion. For inspection reports prior to July 2013 please submit a written request to EHInspections@tchd.org.
Facility Details
Program Food
Facility Name Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage
Business Name Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage
Address 1265 Sgt Jon Stiles Dr
Highlands Ranch, CO 80129-2266
Phone 303-471-9400

Inspection Details
10/05/2020 Inspection, Routine
04/15/2019 Inspection, Routine
49 - Good Retail Practices
Non-food contact surfaces clean
Inspector Comments: 4-601.11(B) Equipment, Food-Contact Surfaces, Nonfood-Contact Surfaces, and Utensils (C) The condenser fans in the dairy walk in refrigerator were soiled with dust accumulation.
55 - Good Retail Practices
Physical facilities installed, maintained, & clean
Inspector Comments: 6-501.12 Cleaning, Frequency and Restrictions (C) The floor in the dairy walk in refrigerator was soiled.
56 - Good Retail Practices
Adequate ventilation & lighting; designated areas used
Inspector Comments: 6-303.11 Intensity-Lighting (C) The light in the produce walk in refrigerator was not functioning.
04/25/2018 Inspection, Routine
04c - Critical
Sanitation: In-place
Inspector Comments: The produce preparation sink is not being washed, rinsed and sanitized in between each item. The inspector discussed in-place cleaning the preparation sink and the facility will implement the procedure immediately.
06b - Critical, Food Borne Illness Risk
Hand Washing: Accessible
Inspector Comments: The hand sink in the produce area was not accessible due to boxes being stored in front and on top. The operator moved the boxes to make the sink accessible.
08b - Critical
Poisonous Or Toxic Items: Properly labeled
Inspector Comments: A chemical spray bottle in the back receiving area was not labeled as to its contents. The chemical spray bottle was discarded.
10b - Non-Critical
Equipment Design, Construction: Nonfood-contact surfaces
Inspector Comments: The door gaskets on the produce and bulk item walk in refrigerators were torn.
12d - Non-Critical
Cleaning Of Equipment & Utensils: Wiping cloths
Inspector Comments: A chemical spray bottle of bleach sanitizer in the produce area was below the required 50-200 ppm.
04/20/2017 Inspection, Follow-Up
04/19/2017 Inspection, Routine
02c - Critical, Food Borne Illness Risk
Personnel: Hands washed as needed
Inspector Comments: Employees were unable to facilitate proper hand washing throughout the facility.
02d - Critical, Food Borne Illness Risk
Personnel: Hygienic practices
Inspector Comments: Towels were observed in the basin of the hand sink in the produce preparation area.
05b - Critical
Water, Sewage, Plumbing Systems: Hot and cold water under pressure
Inspector Comments: Hot water under pressure was not provided at any sinks throughout the facility.
10b - Non-Critical
Equipment Design, Construction: Nonfood-contact surfaces
Inspector Comments: The gaskets were torn on the walk in refrigerator and freezer doors in the back receiving area of the facility. The cutting board was scored on the preparation sink in the produce preparation area.
14d - Non-Critical
Physical Facilities: Lighting
Inspector Comments: Two light fixtures were not functioning above isles 3 and 4 in the facility.
04/18/2016 Inspection, Follow-Up
04/08/2016 Inspection, Routine
02d - Critical, Food Borne Illness Risk
Personnel: Hygienic practices
Inspector Comments: The chemical bottle of bleach was stored on the produce hand sink.
05b - Critical
Water, Sewage, Plumbing Systems: Hot and cold water under pressure
Inspector Comments: Hot and cold water were not present at either of the customer restrooms.
09b - Non-Critical
Food Labeling, Food Protection: Food protected from contamination
Inspector Comments: Food was observed stored on the floor in the walk-in freezer.
10a - Non-Critical
Equipment Design, Construction: Food-contact surfaces
Inspector Comments: The produce cutting boards were scored.
10b - Non-Critical
Equipment Design, Construction: Nonfood-contact surfaces
Inspector Comments: The produce walk-in refrigerator door gasket was torn. Several door gaskets on the reach-in refrigerators were torn. The door gasket on the dairy walk-in refrigerator door was torn.
12d - Non-Critical
Cleaning Of Equipment & Utensils: Wiping cloths
Inspector Comments: The bleach bottle in the produce preparation area did not provide the required 50-200ppm of Chlorine residual.
14c - Non-Critical
Physical Facilities: Floors, walls, and ceilings
Inspector Comments: Water was observed on the floor in the dairy walk-in refrigerator. Water was observed on the floor by the water heater.
03/10/2015 Inspection, Follow-Up
03/03/2015 Inspection, Routine
01b - Critical
Food Source: Wholesome, free of spoilage
Inspector Comments: Two expired containers of infant food were present on a shelf in the infant food isle on the sales floor.
05b - Critical
Water, Sewage, Plumbing Systems: Hot and cold water under pressure
Inspector Comments: Hot water was not present at the hand sink and the two compartment sink in the produce area.
09b - Non-Critical
Food Labeling, Food Protection: Food protected from contamination
Inspector Comments: Boxes of food items were present on the floor in the walk-in freezer.
10b - Non-Critical
Equipment Design, Construction: Nonfood-contact surfaces
Inspector Comments: Door gaskets were torn on the produced walk-in refrigerator and on the back area walk-in refrigerator.
13b - Non-Critical
Utensils, Single-Service Articles: Single service articles stored, used
Inspector Comments: Single-service trays were stored unprotected from contamination next to the microwave in the produce area.
02/10/2014 Inspection, Follow-Up
02/07/2014 Inspection, Routine
05b - Critical
Water, Sewage, Plumbing Systems: Hot and cold water under pressure
Inspector Comments: The hot water at the produce handsink was 81°F, the back handsink was 79°F, and the 3 compartment sink was 79°F.
09b - Non-Critical
Food Labeling, Food Protection: Food protected from contamination
Inspector Comments: A box of food was stored on the floor in the walk-in freezer.
10b - Non-Critical
Equipment Design, Construction: Nonfood-contact surfaces
Inspector Comments: The door gaskets were torn on several reach-in freezers.
15a - Non-Critical
Other Operations: Personnel: clean clothes, hair restraints, authorized
Inspector Comments: An employee cutting produce was wearing a watch.
02/20/2013 Inspection, Routine
02/09/2012 Inspection, Routine
03/04/2011 Inspection, Routine
03/30/2010 Inspection, Routine
01/04/2010 Inspection, First Operational

Please Note: Tri-County converted to a new database in July 2013. Any inspections listed prior to July 2013 only display the date and type of inspection, but not the inspector comments because of the database conversion. For inspection reports prior to July 2013 please submit a written request to EHInspections@tchd.org.

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