Chester County health inspectors found raw chicken stored next to deli meats and eggs at unsafe temperatures at H&L Grill in West Chester.

The findings came during a foodborne-illness investigation at the grill, located inside the Westtown Amish Farmers Market at 1165 Wilmington Pike, on Friday, Sept. 25, as first reported by myChesco. Workers were also observed skipping handwashing between glove changes. The investigation goes beyond a routine inspection.

An inspector watched an employee handle raw scrapple with gloved hands and then touch cooking utensils without washing up. The inspector stopped the worker on the spot and directed them to remove the gloves, wash their hands and put on clean gloves before handling ready-to-eat foods.

Raw chicken and beef sat alongside sliced deli meats at a cook-line unit, creating what the report called a contamination risk to a nearby cutting board. Staff moved the raw meat to a lower refrigerated shelf and cleaned the board during the visit.

Inspectors also recorded temperature violations. Raw shell eggs measured 55 degrees Fahrenheit, and pooled eggs used for omelets and scrambled eggs measured 47 degrees. The department told the facility to track how long the eggs stayed at those temperatures and to use or discard them within four hours.

Other findings included food debris on a deli slicer used earlier that morning, a handwashing sink without soap, missing sanitizer test strips, too few food thermometers and soiled aprons stored near spices. Staff corrected the soap and apron issues on site.

The department noted that H&L Grill did not have a certified food-protection employee on duty as required. One employee had completed an approved training course but had not applied for county certification.

H&L Grill operates Thursday through Saturday inside the market, opening at 8 a.m. Its menu includes omelets, scrapple, deli sandwiches and burgers. No owner or manager was named in the inspection report. No follow-up date has been announced.

Two West Chester Area School District cafeterias inspected the same day passed. Aramark's operations at Henderson High School, 400 Montgomery Ave., and Fern Hill Elementary School, 915 Lincoln Ave., were both listed as in compliance.

The health department cautions that inspection reports reflect conditions at the time of the visit and may not represent a facility's long-term food-safety record. Residents who become ill after eating at a food establishment can call the department at 610-344-6225. Those who witness unsanitary conditions can file a complaint at chesco.org/5843.