Columbia restaurant has to toss food products over safe handling issue

A local burger joint in Columbia was not holding food at safe temperatures during an inspection within the last week.

Mad Cow , 503 E. Nifong Blvd., had cooked mushrooms below safe hot-holding temperatures and cream and lettuce above safe holding temperatures Sept. 4 at a prep station. Safe food holding temperatures are 135 degrees Fahrenheit or above for hot food and 41 degrees or below for cold food. The mushrooms tested at 121 degrees, the cream at 44 degrees and lettuce at 46 degrees.

Routine restaurant inspections happen two to three times per year based on priority and location of Columbia restaurants, Columbia/Boone County Public Health and Human Services previously has said. Follow-up inspections happen if a critical violation is found. Restaurants usually can correct noncri