Earlier this month, a couple of local eateries got dinged and walked away with “satisfactory” grades. Safe to eat. Spiritually unsettling. Fast-forward to this week, however, and food inspectors were serving up something even sweeter: “excellent” ratings across the board. 

Between July 22 and 29, the Pinal County Environmental Health Department dropped in on 10 spots — including restaurants, schools, dessert shops and a food pantry — to make sure everyone was keeping it clean behind the counter. 

Good news: They mostly were.  

Here’s the full lineup of places that earned “excellent” ratings this week, with a few minor violations noted: 

• July 22: KFC / Long John Silver’s 

• • Grease on handles of hot- and cold-holding equipment and oil buildup behind and under fryers. The person in charge told inspectors cleaning both of those was a nightly duty and was reminded to clean the fryer area to prevent pests. 

• July 23: Maricopa Pantry 

• July 28: Bahama Buck’s 

• July 28: Bosa Donuts 

• July 28: Cold Stone Creamery 

• July 28: McDonald’s (Maricopa-Casa Grande Highway) 

• July 28: Papa John’s Pizza 

• • A certified food protection manager must be available while the establishment is operating.  

• July 28: Stanfield Elementary School 

• July 28: Taco Bell (Maricopa-Casa Grande Highway) 

• July 29: Santa Rosa Elementary School 

What do the ratings mean?    

Excellent: All priority standards are observed as compliant.      

Satisfactory: One or more priority standards is out of compliance. All priority standards are corrected at the time of inspection. 

Needs improvement: One or more priority standards is out of compliance. At least one violation is not corrected at the time of inspection. When violations are corrected to the satisfaction of the department during a follow-up inspection, a satisfactory rating will be given.      

Unacceptable: One or more violations observed are an “imminent health hazard.” Hazards include the misuse of poisonous or toxic materials, onset of an apparent foodborne illness outbreak and unsanitary conditions that may endanger public health. Hazards can stem from fires, floods, electrical or water problems, and sewage backup. When violations are corrected to the satisfaction of the department during a follow-up inspection, a satisfactory rating will be given.