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Potsdam Head Start

Lawrence Avenue, Potsdam, NY 13676 · Restaurant (Day Care Center Food Service)

Inspection summary

Potsdam Head Start has been inspected 29 times by New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH) since March 16, 2000. The most recent inspection, on April 17, 2026, found no infractions.

9 of 29 inspections on record found no infractions at all. In the past 12 months there was 1 inspection with 0 infractions recorded. The higher-risk findings here relate to: Cleaning and sanitizing, Protecting food from contamination and Food temperature control.

The last 3 inspections in a row found no infractions. The number of infractions per inspection has stayed roughly the same over time.

What these findings mean

Health authorities word their violations differently, so we group them by what they mean for food safety. Higher-risk findings are the ones inspectors treat as critical, because they can directly make someone sick.

  • Cleaning and sanitizingHigher risk

    Anything that touches food, such as cutting boards, dishes and utensils, must be washed, rinsed and sanitized. Inspectors check dishwasher temperatures, sanitizer strength and how wiping cloths are stored. Poor sanitizing lets bacteria survive from one use to the next.

    Recorded 15 times across 11 separate inspections, most recently on February 11, 2021. For example: Wiping cloths dirty, not stored properly in sanitizing solutions

  • Protecting food from contaminationHigher risk

    This covers how food is stored, prepared and displayed: raw meat kept away from ready-to-eat food, food covered and stored off the floor, and nothing dripping or splashing into it. Cross-contamination from raw to cooked food is a direct route for salmonella and E. coli.

    Recorded 6 times across 6 separate inspections, most recently on March 17, 2022. For example: Cooked or prepared foods are subject to cross-contamination from raw foods.

  • Food temperature controlHigher risk

    Bacteria multiply fastest between about 4 °C and 60 °C (40 °F to 140 °F). Inspectors check that cold food stays cold, hot food stays hot, cooked food is cooled quickly, and that staff have accurate thermometers. Temperature problems are one of the most common causes of food poisoning, so these are treated as critical findings.

    Recorded 3 times across 3 separate inspections, most recently on February 5, 2018. For example: Improper thawing procedures used

  • Food source, labelling and allergensHigher risk

    Food must come from approved suppliers, stay in labelled containers and be thrown out when it is spoiled or damaged, such as dented or swollen cans. Labelling matters for allergies: an unlabelled container can hide an allergen.

    Recorded 2 times across 2 separate inspections, most recently on March 10, 2023. For example: Canned foods found in poor conditions (leakers, severe dents, rusty, swollen cans)

  • Handwashing and staff hygieneHigher risk

    Hands are the main way germs like norovirus move from people to food. Inspectors look for stocked, accessible handwashing sinks, staff washing hands when required, hair restraints, and sick employees being kept away from food. Gaps here can spread illness quickly.

    Recorded once on April 1, 2010. For example: Food workers do not use proper utensils to eliminate bare hand contact with cooked or prepared foods.

About this data

These results come from New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH), which inspects food premises and other public facilities in this area. We republish the authority's public disclosure data and refresh it regularly; the official record is the final word.

29 inspections

  1. Inspection

    0 infractions

  2. Inspection

    0 infractions

  3. Inspection

    0 infractions

  4. Inspection

    1 infraction

    • 1D: Canned foods found in poor conditions (leakers, severe dents, rusty, swollen cans)
      • Critical Violation
  5. Inspection

    1 infraction

    • 2C: Cooked or prepared foods are subject to cross-contamination from raw foods.
      • Critical Violation
  6. Inspection

    1 infraction

    • 11B: Wiping cloths dirty, not stored properly in sanitizing solutions
      • Not Critical Violation
  7. Inspection

    3 infractions

    • 1D: Canned foods found in poor conditions (leakers, severe dents, rusty, swollen cans)
      • Critical Violation
    • 11C: Food contact surfaces not washed, rinsed and sanitized after each use and following any time of operations when contamination may have occurred
      • Not Critical Violation
    • 11D: Non food contact surfaces of equipment not clean
      • Not Critical Violation
  8. Inspection

    2 infractions

    • 8D: Single service items reused, improperly stored, dispensed, not used when required
      • Not Critical Violation
    • 11C: Food contact surfaces not washed, rinsed and sanitized after each use and following any time of operations when contamination may have occurred
      • Not Critical Violation
  9. Inspection

    4 infractions

    • 2C: Cooked or prepared foods are subject to cross-contamination from raw foods.
      • Critical Violation
    • 11B: Wiping cloths dirty, not stored properly in sanitizing solutions
      • Not Critical Violation
    • 10B: Non-food contact surfaces and equipment are improperly designed, constructed, installed, maintained (equipment not readily accessible for cleaning, surface not smooth finish)
      • Not Critical Violation
    • 8F: Improper thawing procedures used
      • Not Critical Violation
  10. Inspection

    3 infractions

    • 2C: Cooked or prepared foods are subject to cross-contamination from raw foods.
      • Critical Violation
    • 15B: Lighting and ventilation inadequate, fixtures not shielded, dirty ventilation hoods, ductwork, filters, exhaust fans
      • Not Critical Violation
    • 8B: In use food dispensing utensils improperly stored
      • Not Critical Violation
  11. Inspection

    1 infraction

    • 10B: Non-food contact surfaces and equipment are improperly designed, constructed, installed, maintained (equipment not readily accessible for cleaning, surface not smooth finish)
      • Not Critical Violation
  12. Inspection

    5 infractions

    • 2A: Prepared food products contact equipment or work surfaces which have had prior contact with raw foods and where washing and sanitizing of the food contact surface has not occurred to prevent contamination
      • Critical Violation
    • 8D: Single service items reused, improperly stored, dispensed, not used when required
      • Not Critical Violation
    • 11B: Wiping cloths dirty, not stored properly in sanitizing solutions
      • Not Critical Violation
    • 8B: In use food dispensing utensils improperly stored
      • Not Critical Violation
    • 8E: Accurate thermometers not available or used to evaluate refrigerated or heated storage temperatures
      • Not Critical Violation
  13. Inspection

    3 infractions

    • 11C: Food contact surfaces not washed, rinsed and sanitized after each use and following any time of operations when contamination may have occurred
      • Not Critical Violation
    • 8A: Food not protected during storage, preparation, display, transportation and service, from potential sources of contamination (e.g., food uncovered, mislabeled, stored on floor, missing or inadequate sneeze guards, food containers double stacked)
      • Not Critical Violation
    • 11A: Manual facilities inadequate, technique incorrect; mechanical facilities not operated in accordance with manufacturer's instructions
      • Not Critical Violation
  14. Inspection

    2 infractions

    • 15B: Lighting and ventilation inadequate, fixtures not shielded, dirty ventilation hoods, ductwork, filters, exhaust fans
      • Not Critical Violation
    • 15A: Floors, walls, ceilings, not smooth, properly constructed, in disrepair, dirty surfaces
      • Not Critical Violation
  15. Inspection

    2 infractions

    • 11B: Wiping cloths dirty, not stored properly in sanitizing solutions
      • Not Critical Violation
    • 11A: Manual facilities inadequate, technique incorrect; mechanical facilities not operated in accordance with manufacturer's instructions
      • Not Critical Violation
  16. Inspection

    1 infraction

    • 10B: Non-food contact surfaces and equipment are improperly designed, constructed, installed, maintained (equipment not readily accessible for cleaning, surface not smooth finish)
      • Not Critical Violation
  17. Inspection

    1 infraction

    • 15A: Floors, walls, ceilings, not smooth, properly constructed, in disrepair, dirty surfaces
      • Not Critical Violation
  18. Inspection

    2 infractions

    • 3C: Food workers do not use proper utensils to eliminate bare hand contact with cooked or prepared foods.
      • Critical Violation
    • 11A: Manual facilities inadequate, technique incorrect; mechanical facilities not operated in accordance with manufacturer's instructions
      • Not Critical Violation
  19. Inspection

    2 infractions

    • 11D: Non food contact surfaces of equipment not clean
      • Not Critical Violation
    • 12C: Plumbing and sinks not properly sized, installed, maintained; equipment and floors not properly drained
      • Not Critical Violation
  20. Inspection

    4 infractions

    • 12C: Plumbing and sinks not properly sized, installed, maintained; equipment and floors not properly drained
      • Not Critical Violation
    • 11B: Wiping cloths dirty, not stored properly in sanitizing solutions
      • Not Critical Violation
    • 10B: Non-food contact surfaces and equipment are improperly designed, constructed, installed, maintained (equipment not readily accessible for cleaning, surface not smooth finish)
      • Not Critical Violation
    • 11A: Manual facilities inadequate, technique incorrect; mechanical facilities not operated in accordance with manufacturer's instructions
      • Not Critical Violation
  21. Inspection

    6 infractions

    • 8E: Accurate thermometers not available or used to evaluate refrigerated or heated storage temperatures
      • Not Critical Violation
    • 11A: Manual facilities inadequate, technique incorrect; mechanical facilities not operated in accordance with manufacturer's instructions
      • Not Critical Violation
    • 11D: Non food contact surfaces of equipment not clean
      • Not Critical Violation
    • 12C: Plumbing and sinks not properly sized, installed, maintained; equipment and floors not properly drained
      • Not Critical Violation
    • 2C: Cooked or prepared foods are subject to cross-contamination from raw foods.
      • Critical Violation
    • 10B: Non-food contact surfaces and equipment are improperly designed, constructed, installed, maintained (equipment not readily accessible for cleaning, surface not smooth finish)
      • Not Critical Violation
  22. Inspection

    3 infractions

    • 10B: Non-food contact surfaces and equipment are improperly designed, constructed, installed, maintained (equipment not readily accessible for cleaning, surface not smooth finish)
      • Not Critical Violation
    • 12C: Plumbing and sinks not properly sized, installed, maintained; equipment and floors not properly drained
      • Not Critical Violation
    • 11D: Non food contact surfaces of equipment not clean
      • Not Critical Violation
  23. Inspection

    3 infractions

    • 8A: Food not protected during storage, preparation, display, transportation and service, from potential sources of contamination (e.g., food uncovered, mislabeled, stored on floor, missing or inadequate sneeze guards, food containers double stacked)
      • Not Critical Violation
    • 11A: Manual facilities inadequate, technique incorrect; mechanical facilities not operated in accordance with manufacturer's instructions
      • Not Critical Violation
    • 15B: Lighting and ventilation inadequate, fixtures not shielded, dirty ventilation hoods, ductwork, filters, exhaust fans
      • Not Critical Violation
  24. Inspection

    0 infractions

  25. Inspection

    0 infractions

  26. Inspection

    0 infractions

  27. Inspection

    0 infractions

  28. Inspection

    0 infractions

  29. Inspection

    0 infractions

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