Bloody meat boxes: Market owner promises to do better

HARLINGEN, Texas (ValleyCentral) — In this week’s Food 4 Thought, we are showing up at a meat market with a questionable inspection report.

We are leaving with bloody boots, video evidence, and an owner who admits they will do better.

First, we are heading to a pizza spot with a clean kitchen, full flavors, and a staff that offers their recommendations.

Here’s what’s que rico and what’s que asco in this week’s Food 4 Thought!

We surprised the team at Mama’s Pizzeria located at 401 North 10th St in McAllen, Texas.

They cooked up a perfect score on their May 20 inspection report, making them this week’s top performer.

“Feels great. I've been here 17 and a half years. I've never gotten one," Stephen Marino said. He has been with Mama’s Pizzeria for nearly two decades.

Jasmine Rendon, who joined the team two years ago, shared her reason to join Mama’s Pizzeria and it is something that the Food Patrol can understand.

“I want to work as a server where they sell pizza so I can eat that all day," said Rendon.

A sign of a good restaurant is a clean inspection and a staff who loves the food!

Marino shared what his go-to pie is. “I'd say pepperoni, jalapeno, and bacon with a little Philadelphia cheese.”

Rendon's go to is a meat lover's pizza and dessert!

Whether you order Marino’s, Rendon's, or build your own, it is coming from a top performer.

That’s que rico!

But it’s que asco time!

From Meat Lovers Pizza to a meat market, with some issues.

The Food Patrol is heading to Carne's Selectas Gonzalez, located at 8329 N Gemini Ave in Edinburg, Texas.

They had 21 violations on their March 31 Hidalgo County health inspection.

A health inspector took photos of a cracked floor and mechanical gas equipment that is a fire hazard.

The inspector noted they had flies, uncovered food, and a busted sheetrock in the bathroom.

When we showed up, flies were buzzing around the tables and windows.

Owner Virginia Gonzalez showed us some of the issues they fixed, such as the fire hazard violation and the cracked floor.

However, there is a major bloody problem.

Blood is pouring from cardboard boxes and pooling on the floor.

Gonzalez’s butcher says this is how the meat comes but the boxes they let us look through have the meat sealed in bags. He says some come frozen, and this is their thawing process.

We raised concerns because USDA guidelines call for refrigerator and cold water thawing. This is away from the customers’ view.

Additionally, personal items are being mixed with ingredients and the kitchen staff should not be handling food without a certification.

Gonzalez reassured us change is coming and apologized.

And that’s Food 4 Thought!

Que rico que asco!

You’re part of the Food Patrol! When you see dirty habits, please send us photos/videos and a copy of the complaint you filed to your local health department to News@KVEO.COM.