Flies, mouse droppings cited in consumer alert for Potenza Pizza & Pasta in Oakland

The Allegheny County Health Department has issued a consumer alert for Potenza Pizza & Pasta in Oakland.

A Sept. 16 inspection said the Centre Avenue restaurant was infested with flies and there were mouse droppings in various places.

A Food Safety Assessment Report said dozens of house flies were observed in the kitchen and prep areas and the front and back doors were open without screens, allowing pests into the restaurant. There also was a large hole in the floor where a drain line enters the floor, the report said.

There was evidence of mouse activity in the basement insulation across from the office, and the basement itself had many unsealed openings and gaps. Mouse droppings were observed behind the prep tables, behind the mixer, in the soda storage room, behind the upright freezer, in the dish washing room and throughout the basement, according to the report.

The report added that the restaurant needed to clean many non-food contact surfaces, throw away pizza boxes that had been soiled by condensation leaking from the prep cooler, and have a Certified Food Protection Manager on the premises during all hours of operation.

The handwashing facilities also were inadequate, according to the report. The report said soap and paper towels were not easily accessible at the dish room hand sink.

A man who answered the phone at the restaurant Monday said it remains open for business. He couldn’t speak about the consumer alert, but said he would pass along the message to a manager.