Iowa Restaurants and Food Establishments Face Major Health Violations

The Iowa Department of Inspections, Appeals and Licensing (DIAL) reported hundreds of recent food-safety violations across restaurants, stores, and care facilities between Sept. 15 and Oct. 9, 2025. Issues ranged from expired food and mold growth to dirty kitchens, cross-contamination risks, and unlicensed operations. Many violations were severe enough to require immediate discarding of unsafe food.

Notable Violations by Establishment

Verde, Bettendorf

17 risk-factor violations.
Operating without a valid food-service license and no certified food protection manager on staff.
Food discarded: red salsa (Aug. 14), bean puree (Aug. 18), wine sauce (July 11), mango habanero (Sept. 12).
Cross-contamination risks: raw beef above fresh herbs and cooked rice.
Unsanitary equipment: ice bin grime, malfunctioning dishwashing machine, dirty rolling cart.

Brady’s Bar & Grill, Edgewood

12 risk-factor violations.
Staff handled food with bare hands; no soap at sinks.
Spoiled or improperly stored food: pizza sauce, alfredo sauce, sausage, ham, shredded cheese, coleslaw, cottage cheese.
Unmarked prepared foods; dirty microwave; license not posted.

The Bettplex, Bettendorf

Foods held past maximum seven days: Canadian bacon, lettuce, bean sauce, ranch, beer cheese, brisket.
Handwashing sink blocked; mold observed on pizzas prepared four days earlier.
Fruit flies noted around floor drains.

Cabos Cantina & Grill, Eldridge

10 risk-factor violations.
Improper hot-holding of rice, raw chicken, and raw steak.
Improperly stored tortillas, utensils, and chemicals; dishwashing machine lacked sanitizing solution.

Dynasty Buffet, Davenport

11 risk-factor violations.
Employees handled vegetables with bare hands; raw chicken and seafood stored above ready-to-eat foods.
Dirty equipment, uncovered foods, improper thawing, and fly strips used.

Colfax Truck Stop, Colfax

9 risk-factor violations.
Unapproved eggs, improperly thawed frozen meat, pastries at unsafe temperatures, no date-marking system.

All Pho You, Des Moines

Sausage with visible contamination; previously cited for 13 risk-factor violations.
No certified food protection manager.

Hy-Vee Foods (Multiple Locations)

Issues included foods stored above 41°F, cross-contamination, incomplete cooking, and unsanitized equipment.
Locations affected: Iowa City (1125 N. Dodge St. & 1720 Waterfront Dr.), Mount Pleasant (1700 E. Washington St.).

Olive Tree Café, Bettendorf

Food-contact surfaces covered in debris; expired quinoa; no certified food protection manager.

Fas Mart, Glenwood

Unsanitized dishes; foods stored at unsafe temperatures; handwashing sink improperly installed; inspection report not posted.

Foundry Food & Tap, Bettendorf

Multiple surfaces with grime and food debris; improperly thawed vacuum-sealed salmon; unsafe temperatures for stored foods.

Smoke N Firehouse No. 20, Ringsted

13 risk-factor violations.
Moldy buns, uncovered foods, raw ground beef at room temperature, dirty utensils and equipment, bug spray in kitchen.

Common Violations Observed

Food held at unsafe temperatures (above 41°F for cold foods, below 165°F for hot foods).
Expired or moldy items.
Lack of certified food protection managers.
Poor sanitation of kitchen surfaces, utensils, and equipment.
Improper food storage risking cross-contamination.
Missing or improper date-marking on prepared foods.
Lack of handwashing facilities or proper soap availability.

DIAL notes:

Inspection reports provide a “snapshot” in time; violations are often corrected on the spot.
Full inspection details are available on the Iowa Department of Inspections, Appeals and Licensing website.

This article has been carefully fact-checked by our editorial team to ensure accuracy and eliminate any misleading information. We are committed to maintaining the highest standards of integrity in our content.