State, city and county inspectors have cited Iowa restaurants and stores for hundreds of food-safety violations during the past several weeks, including unsanitary kitchens, insects inside bottled beverages and conditions that resulted in the immediate, temporary shutdown of one eastern Iowa restaurant.
The findings are reported by the Iowa Department of Inspections, Appeals and Licensing, which handles food-establishment inspections at the state level.
Listed below are some of the more serious findings that stem from inspections at Iowa restaurants, stores, care facilities and other businesses between May 15, 2026, and June 16, 2026. (DIAL withholds from public disclosure all food-safety inspection reports for eight days past the date of inspection.)
The inspections department reminds the public that its reports are a “snapshot” in time, and violations are often corrected on the spot before the inspector leaves the establishment. For a more complete list of all inspections, along with additional details on each of the inspections listed below, visit the Iowa Department of Inspections, Appeals and Licensing’s website.
Steve’s Silver Dollar, 229 Main St., McGregor — During a June 12 visit, a state inspector cited this establishment for 10 risk-factor violations, an unusually high number. Among the issues: a lack of certified food protection managers and an inadequate system for controlling and monitoring handwashing practices and the sanitizing of kitchen utensils and equipment.
“Several bottles of liquor were uncapped, contained dead insects, and/or a layer of sediment inside the bottle,” the inspector reported, and “and exposed raw hamburger patties” were being stored on a tray above what the inspector described as “banned beverages.”
In addition, raw frozen fish was kept uncovered inside a chest freezer, the “cleaned dishes” in the drying rack still had food debris on them, and there was some type of “organic growth” in the bar area’s ice machine. The inspector also reported that the handwashing sink behind the bar was being used as a dump sink.
“Presence of flying insects throughout the facility and gnats around handwash sink behind the bar,” the inspector wrote in his report. “There is an accumulation of gnats between the seal of the chest freezer.”
Also, a cooler behind the bar showed signs of an “accumulation of mineral deposits, organic growth, and stagnant water” within the cabinet, and the handles of kitchen equipment and kitchen cabinets were marred by an accumulation of food debris, oil and grease. The inspector also reported a leaking water connection at the soda fountain carbonator, which left water pooling along the bar, and portions of the floor were buckling or were damaged from the “persistent water leak.”
The visit was prompted by a non-illness complaint concerning sanitation, food adulteration and contamination. The complaint was deemed verified, the inspector reported. After the inspection, the person in charge agreed to voluntarily and temporarily limit food sales to canned and bottled beverages that were commercially packaged until another assessment of the business could be performed during a follow-up inspection.
California Restaurant, 1500 Villa Ave., Sioux City — During a June 11 visit, a Siouxland District Health Department inspector observed that this establishment was storing a container of raw chicken within a container of raw beef inside one of the coolers, risking cross-contamination. The raw chicken and raw beef were then discarded.
Also, several items — including raw chicken, raw beef and shredded cabbage — had been left uncovered in a cooler, and bowls of cooked rice were stacked in the refrigerator with the bottom of one bowl in direct contact with the rice in the bowl below. The rice was then discarded. The inspector also noted that multiple unspecified items stored inside the cooler had no date-markings to ensure freshness and safety.
The Isle of Capri, 1777 Isle Parkway, Bettendorf — During a June 16 visit, a Scott County inspector cited this establishment for a walk-in cooler that, before being repaired, was maintaining food at 44 degrees rather than 41 degrees or colder. The inspector also noted there was no date-marking of food items such as sliced tomatoes and homemade chili to ensure their freshness and safety. In addition, the ribs in the main kitchen were not date-marked, nor were the sandwiches in the Lone Wolf Bar area.
The inspector also reported finding Italian beef date-marked June 2, and aioli sauce date-marked either June 5 or June 6 — the inspector’s report cites both dates — and both the sauce and the Italian beef had to be discarded. The inspector also made note of excess food debris in a microwave oven and a dessert cooler, as well as excess syrup debris on all of the soda pop dispensers in the Lone Wolf Bar area.
Gus & Lisa Pub & Pizza, 1220 Sunset Drive, Norwalk — During a June 12 visit, state inspector cited this establishment for nine risk-factor violations, an unusually high number. The inspector reported the establishment was not employing a certified food protection manager as required and noted that employees, while handling sandwich buns with their bare hands, were also failing to wash their hands between tasks.
The business also had no date-marking system in place to ensure the food was both safe and fresh, the inspector noted. In addition, there was no chlorine chemical sanitizer available for use in the business’ mechanical dishwasher, and the kitchen handwashing sink was being used as a dump sink for bar beverages. Also, there was no thin, probe-style thermometer available to check the internal temperature of meat, and the meat inside the reach-in freezer was adhered to the shelf due to a buildup of ice. Areas of the floor and walls, as well as the walk-in cooler, were unclean, the inspector reported.
The restaurant was last inspected in August 2023, according to state records.
Foundry Food & Tap, 3266 Crosspark Road, Coralville — During a June 11 visit, a Johnson County inspector observed that raw chicken and fish in one of the coolers had an internal temperature of 53 degrees, having failed to reach 41 degrees after being refrigerated for 12 hours. The chicken and fish were discarded.
The inspector also noted that multiple items had been held beyond the maximum of seven days, including alfredo sauce and lemon sauce that were dated June 2, chipotle sauce that was dated May 31, coleslaw that was dated June 3, and chipotle lime that was dated May 23. All of the outdated items were then discarded. The inspector also observed that the restaurant’s dishwasher was unable to reach its minimum sanitizing temperature of 165 degrees, and that food utensils were being stored in a bucket of standing water between uses.
Las Palmas Market, 321 E. 2nd St., Ottumwa — During a June 10 visit, a state inspector cited this establishment for 11 risk-factor violations, an unusually high number. Among the issues: a lack of certified food protection managers on staff; several employees were seen failing to washing their hands between tasks; and multiple boxes of produce — including bell peppers, potatoes, green peppers, onions and oranges — within the walk-in cooler “showed signs of adulteration,” possibly indicating mold growth.
Also, raw poultry and beef were stored above the cooked products inside the coolers, creating a risk of cross-contamination; cooked food items were being left uncovered inside the walk-in cooler, adding to the risk of cross-contamination; and several containers of cooked food — including rice, beans, meat in red sauce, tamales and menudo that had been prepared days earlier and then refrigerated — had yet to cool to 41 degrees. The food items that had not cooled properly were discarded. The inspector also noted the restaurant had no date-marking system in place for foods prepared in-house.
Adelitas Mexican Grill, 2833 Blairs Ferry Road, Cedar Rapids — During a June 9 visit, a Linn County inspector effectively shut down this restaurant due to dishwashing and refrigeration issues, writing in his inspection report, “THE FACILITY WILL CEASE OPERATION DUE TO LACK OF WAREWASHING AND PROPERLY FUNCTIONING COLD HOLDING.”
The inspector noted the business had no currently certified food protection manager on staff, and employees were not washing their hands as required. Also, several containers of food were stored uncovered in the walk-in cooler, and several pans of refried beans cooked the day before were holding at 45 to 50 degrees and had to be discarded.
The food-preparation cooler holding food at 48 degrees rather than 41 degrees or colder, which resulted in all of the temperature-controlled food items inside being discarded. The inspector also reported finding ready-to-eat time- and temperature-controlled food items that had been held beyond the maximum of seven days and had to be discarded.
On June 11, the inspector returned and reported the dishwashing machine was working properly and a new cooler had been purchased and was operating properly. The business was allowed to reopen.
Skip-A-Way Resort and Campground, 3825 Harding Road, Clermont — During a June 5 visit, a Black Hawk County inspector reported that the operator of this business was “unaware” of proper thawing procedures, employee illness policies, clean-up procedures, and the temperature requirements for cold-holding food items that require refrigeration.
“Ice cream mix stored on the same shelf with fishing bait in the retail cooler,” the inspector reported. “Ham and cheese stacked high in the cold bar were holding at 45 degrees. Discarded during the inspection.”
The inspector also observed that eggs left sitting on a counter were holding at 73 degrees and had to be discarded, and taco meat and pasta noodles that had been kept past the maximum of seven days had to be discarded. In addition, the dishwashing machine in the kitchen had no sanitizing solution in it, and frozen fish had been left out on a counter to thaw. “Floors in the kitchen and dry-storage (area) are dirty,” the inspector reported.
Riverside Grille, 1710 Grant St., Bettendorf — During a June 9 visit, a Scott County inspector cited this establishment for nine risk-factor violations. The inspector reported the pork tenderloin had been cooked to only 135 degrees, resulting in intervention and the pork being returned to the grill and cooked to at least 145 degrees. The inspector also noted that the food stored in the bottom of a food-prep cooler under the kitchen grill was holding at 44 to 45 degrees and had to be removed and placed in the walk-in cooler to be chilled to at least 41 degrees.
Also, ranch dressing stored in a bucket outside of the kitchen was being held at 58 degrees and had to be discarded, and several food items were not correctly date-marked to ensure freshness and safety. The inspector also reported finding house-made Thousand Island dressing dated May 20, and baked beans dated May 21, placing them well past the seven-day limit and resulting in them being discarded.
PM Park, 15297 Raney Drive, Clear Lake — During a June 8 visit, a Cerro Gordo County inspector reported that food in the cook line’s food-preparation cooler was being held at 50 to 52 degrees, while food in the walk-in cooler was being held at 47 to 52 degrees.
The food in the prep cooler was discarded, and a refrigeration company was contacted to service the two coolers. “Some of the homemade sauces are dated in May,” the inspector reported, without elaborating. “There are a large number of gnats and flies in the Tiki Bar.”
A & A Fuel Mart, 4425 W. Locust St., Davenport — During a June 1 visit, a Scott County inspector noted that the business had kratom products on the shelf for sale. House File 2133, passed by the Iowa House earlier this year, was intended to designate kratom products as hallucinogenic, Schedule I controlled substance. The products currently remain legal for both sale and possession in Iowa, although some studies have linked kratom use to liver damage and high blood pressure. The kratom products were voluntarily removed from the shelves at A & A Fuel Mart, and the inspector reported that the “owner mentioned the products are old and they will not sell.” The business also did not have a valid Retail Food Service Establishment License through the Scott County Health Department, the inspector noted.
Azteca 3 Mexican Restaurant, 2400 Spruce Hills Drive, Bettendorf — During a May 28 visit, a Scott County inspector cited this restaurant for 10 risk-factor violations, an unusually high number. Among the issues: There was no certified food protection manager with management responsibility on the staff; raw chicken breasts were stored over ready-to-eat foods in a cooler, risking cross-contamination; containers of salsa were measured at 54 to 56 degrees inside a salsa-prep cooler; and several food items in the walk-in cooler and the prep coolers were not date-marked to ensure freshness and safety.
Also, the interiors of all the coolers throughout the kitchen were marred by excess food debris; one of the dedicated handwashing sinks was being used to dump grease and food product; and there was “evidence of roach-like insects along the baseboards in the back storage room and in the dishwashing area.”
The inspector also reported seeing “open containers of food items in the coolers throughout the kitchen,” and reported there were pieces of broken glass in bottom of a cooler where plastic pitchers were stored. “Shelving throughout the kitchen has excess food debris and grease on them,” the inspector reported. “Flooring under all kitchen equipment has excess food debris and grease.”
Si Señor 2, 906 2nd St., Coralville — During a May 20 visit, a Jonson County inspector cited this establishment for 10 risk-factor violations, an unusually high number. According to the inspector, the person in charge was unable to answer questions related to safe food temperatures, sanitizing utensils and food-contact surfaces, foodborne illnesses, and cooking times.
House-made queso that had yet to cool properly after being made two days prior to the inspection was discarded. The inspector also reported finding house-made chipotle sauce dated May 5, cooked pork dated May 12, and sliced tomatoes dated May 13, all of which were held beyond their seven-day limit and had to be discarded.
QC Diner, 1717 W. 3rd St., Davenport — During a May 19 visit, a Scott County inspector cited this establishment for 10 risk-factor violations, an unusually high number. The inspector noted that one refrigerated container of chicken that had been cooked the previous day had yet to cool to 41 degrees and had to be discarded. Also, opened packages of deli ham and bologna were observed with no date-markings to ensure safety and freshness, and a container of macaroni and cheese prepared on May 1, 2026, was still being offered for sale and had to be discarded. In addition, the interior shelves of the walk-in coolers were marred by a “buildup of soil and required additional cleaning,” the inspector reported.
Pho Wheels & Sushi, 927 Hunter Dr., Norwalk — During a May 15 visit, a state inspector cited this food truck for 11 risk-factor violations, an unusually high number. Although the state inspector’s written report is in a form of shorthand that makes it difficult to decipher, the report indicates that temperatures being maintained by various coolers and refrigerators within the food truck were well outside the allowable parameters, with crab measured at 57 degrees and tuna measured at 48 degrees and 57 degrees. The food items were discarded, according to the inspector.
In addition, there were prepared, ready-to-eat foods in the coolers that were not date-marked to ensure freshness and safety, and the sushi rice was not marked with the time at which it needed to be discarded. The inspector also noted that the water supply to the handwashing sink had been turned off, and there were no paper towels or hand soap at the sink.
