The Denver, Colorado health department cited for critical violations and required to discard improperly held food Boston Market following a disturbing discovery: critical temperature control failures in hot food holding throughout the serving line.
A Boston Market restaurant in the Denver Tech Center area was cited for critical temperature violations after Jefferson County health inspectors found multiple hot food items being held below the required 135°F minimum. Boston Market's business model is built on rotisserie chicken and other hot-held comfort foods, making temperature control especially critical.
The FDA Food Code requires hot foods to be held above 135°F and cold foods below 41°F. The temperature range between those thresholds is called the 'danger zone' — the range in which bacteria like Salmonella and Staphylococcus aureus can double in number every 20 minutes.
According to the inspection report, rotisserie chicken that had been on display for an extended period was found at an internal temperature of 118°F. Inspectors also noted that mashed potatoes and gravy in the hot holding display were also below minimum temperature requirements. The Denver Post reported that the restaurant was required to discard an estimated $800 in improperly held food products.
According to public records, this was not the first time this location had received citations. Prior inspection records showed previous violations had been documented, raising questions about whether corrective actions had been implemented and sustained over time.
Food safety experts recommend that diners check public health inspection records before visiting a restaurant. Most states publish inspection reports online within 48 hours of the visit. Scores below 80 — or the presence of any critical violation — warrant extra caution.
Before your next dinner out, check the health inspection score at InspectorEats.com. Knowledge is your best defense against foodborne illness.
The case highlights the importance of regular health inspections in protecting public health. Boston Market calibrated all holding equipment and implemented mandatory temperature logging every two hours.