The Army dining facility in Vilseck, Germany, which received a noncompliant "F" grade from health inspectors on Feb. 3, 2022, indicating at least one critical violation. Army officials said the problems are being addressed. (Immanuel Johnson/Stars and Stripes)
GRAFENWOEHR, Germany — A dining facility at Rose Barracks in Vilseck remains open and has addressed the violations that led to an “F” grade on a recent food sanitation inspection, 2nd Cavalry Regiment officials said.
The grade means that a facility is noncompliant with the U.S. military’s Tri-Service Food Code and that there is either an “imminent health hazard,” which means it must close, or at least one critical violation that isn’t correctable onsite.
“There was no imminent health hazard at the facility,” regiment spokesman Maj. John Ambelang said in a statement Monday. “The ’F’ rating notifies the patrons about compliance status of the facility.”
The inspector noted a host of deficiencies during a visit Thursday. Roast beef was stored in a refrigerator without a pull date or use-by date, mold was growing on produce in a refrigerator, can openers had excessive food debris and grease, and the ice machine sanitation log had not been accurately maintained, Ambelang said.
Dinner at the Vilseck dining facility featuring chicken, vegetables and salad on Feb. 6, 2022 at Vilseck, Germany. The facility received an "F" grade from health inspectors on Feb. 3. Army officials said they are addressing the deficiencies. (Immanuel Johnson/Stars and Stripes)
The same inspector did a walkthrough of the facility Monday and did not find the same deficiencies, Ambelang said.
“The regiment is expecting an official inspection within the next 30 days where it expects its ratings to significantly improve with the inspection being unannounced,” he said.
No foodborne illnesses related to the facility have been recently reported, Ambelang said.
A photo showing the “F” grade was posted on Twitter by Army WTF Moments on Saturday, along with a question about correcting the deficiencies.
The 2nd Cavalry Regiment responded on Twitter that the grade was “not acceptable” for the regiment’s soldiers and that the unit was “aggressively taking actions to address this problem.”
