The Philadelphia Department of Health’s Office of Food Protection inspected two restaurants on May 19, 2025, and recorded multiple violations. Both were missing food safety certification and lacked physical facility maintenance.
Highlights
- Two restaurants in Philadelphia received a total of 8 risk factor/intervention violations during inspections on May 19.
- La Bendicion Bakery and Restaurant required 8 on-site corrections and will be subject to reinspection for serious food safety issues.
- Both facilities were cited for not having the required Food Establishment Personnel Food Safety Certification during inspection.
Two Philadelphia Restaurants Cited for Multiple Violations
Philadelphia Department of Health inspectors found violations at both restaurants, from food safety personnel issues to facility and equipment sanitation.
Pop Pop’s II
Where: 6786 Ridge Ave, Philadelphia, PA 19128
When: May 19, 2025 (9:15 AM – 11:15 AM)
Pop Pop’s II, a dine-in restaurant operated by Monroe Press Inc., was cited for 2 risk factor/intervention violations with 3 corrections made on-site during the inspection. The inspection report revealed that no person in charge with a valid food safety certificate was on site at the start of the inspection. This was partially addresses when the certified food safety employee arrived midway through the inspection.
The restaurant was also cited for non-compliance with Code 46.103, which mandates that at least one staff member with a valid Food Establishment Personnel Food Safety Certificate be present on duty on all hours of operation.
The other infractions found were improper storage of unused equipment in a utility closet, a reach-in freezer in need of defrosting, and physical facility issues such as damaged flooring at the bar with missing tiles and stained ceiling tiles in the rear area near the restrooms.
La Bendicion Bakery and Restaurant
Where: 4903 N 5th St, Philadelphia, PA 19120
When: May 19, 2025 (8:55 AM – 10:55 AM)
La Bendicion Bakery and Restaurant, operated by Arly Adilia Aldana Urrutia, had far more citations, including 6 risk factor/intervention violations and 8 on-site corrections. The person in charge lacked adequate knowledge of the Philadelphia Food Code and proper washing, rinsing, and sanitizing practices.
Major violations noted were improper handwashing practices, such as skipping handwashing between task changes by personnel, as per the inspection report. Moreover, the facility could not provide evidence that their cakes were from an approved source. These were removed from the refrigerating compartment during inspection. The facility also lacked temperature-measuring equipment for maintaining proper food temperatures.
There were several equipment and storage issues, such as food kept less than the required 6 inches above the floor in the walk-in cooler, and freezers without standard certification. The facility also lacked sanitizer test strips. The inspectors also noted significant cleanliness issues in the freezers and coolers.
Common Violations and Compliance Requirements
Neither facility had a certified person in charge at the start of their respective inspections – a violation of Philadelphia regulations mandating one certified representative be available at all operational hours. Inspectors stated that non-submission of certification applications within 30 days may lead to the suspension of operations.
Moreover, physical facility maintenance was an issue observed at both sites. Both facilities were notified that failure to remedy cited violations would lead to the revocation of the health license, with reinstatement requiring payment of additional license fees.
The May 19 restaurant inspections highlight the need to adhere to the correct food safety practices and facility requirements in Philadelphia’s food industry. Pop Pop’s II had largely structural and certification problems, while La Bendicion Bakery and Restaurant was flagged for multiple food handling violations requiring correction, with reinspection due soon.
