Los Banos, CA (November 20, 2025) — Recent food-safety inspections conducted by the Merced County Division of Environmental Health identified one failing restaurant in Los Banos, while several other businesses in both Los Banos and Merced received passing scores.
In Los Banos, Little Caesar’s Pizza at 1060 Pacheco Blvd. received an “Unsatisfactory” rating during a Nov. 3, 2025 inspection, accumulating 19 violation points. According to the inspection report, the restaurant was cited for a series of issues involving food safety, sanitation, and equipment maintenance. Violations included improper cold-storage temperatures, after cheese in the prep refrigerator was measured at 49 degrees, which is well above the required 41 degrees. Staff were advised to keep the prep station closed when not in use, and the cheese was relocated to a compliant refrigerator.
Inspectors also reported significant grease buildup on exhaust hood filters, loose and grease-coated fire suppression nozzles, and heavy food and debris accumulation on multiple pieces of kitchen equipment, including the dough rounder, pizza oven, and walk-in refrigerator. Some areas inside the walk-in unit showed mold growth, and dust was found on fan covers. Additional violations included a malfunctioning thermometer in the walk-in refrigerator, debris and organic buildup in the walk-in floor sink, stained ceiling tiles, and a nonfunctional employee toilet.
The facility also lacked required signage and a posted health permit, and inspectors documented multiple flies landing on prep surfaces, a repeat violation. The business is required to correct all issues before a follow-up inspection.
One Los Banos business received a passing score during this inspection cycle. Mercey Springs Shell, located at 24729 S. Mercey Springs Road, earned a “Good” rating, indicating no major food-safety concerns at the time of inspection.
In Merced, several businesses passed their inspections with good ratings, including Domino’s Pizza (1109 W. Main St.), Food Maxx on West Olive Avenue, Scoops Handcrafted Açaí Bowls (3090 M St.), Mountain Mike’s Pizza (1348 W. Olive Ave.), La Finca Branding Iron (640 W. 16th St.), 7 Star Liquor (1230 E. MLK Jr. Way), Five Below (1011 W. Olive Ave.), and Rancho San Miguel Market (1930 Yosemite Parkway).
However, one Merced business failed its inspection. El Bajio Market at 1010 W. 16th St. received an “Unsatisfactory” rating with 24 points during a Nov. 6 inspection. Violations included a leaking hand-washing sink in the meat department, a damaged meat display case door repaired with tape, and a nonfunctioning hand-wash sink in the front kitchen, all repeat issues. Inspectors also noted improper storage of wiping towels, which must be kept in sanitizer between uses, and unsafe food temperatures, with beans and meat recorded at 108 degrees, far below the required 135 degrees for hot-holding. Employees were reportedly attempting to reheat food using steam tables, which are not capable of achieving the required 165-degree reheating standard.
The full inspection reports are available on the Merced County Environmental Health website.
