Dave's County Market
300 E FIRST ST, Merrill, WI 54452 · Lincoln County
Establishment
- Type
- Retail food (not serving meals) (Retail Food - Not Serving Meals, Complex)
- Inspected by
- Lincoln County Health Department
- License / ID
- MWIS-C5BKD8
- Status
- Permitted
- Phone
- (715) 536-2571
- Official record
- Lincoln County Health Department inspection reports
Year by year
| Year | Inspections | Violations | Serious |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 2 | 15 | 1 |
| 2025 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| 2023 | 3 | 17 | 7 |
Inspections
-
Feb 5, 2026 Re-inspection · 1 priority foundation, 4 core, 5 repeat
-
Not serious
Priority Foundation
Repeat
WASHING FRUITS AND VEGETABLES - DEVICES USED FOR CHEMICAL SANITIZATION
Device for onsite chemical generation for washing fruits and vegetable not used in accordance with manufacturer's directions. Unit is dispensing at < 30 PPM. Instructions indicate 30 to 60 PPM. Note - Test strips are expired (2023)
Correction: Use onsite chemical device according to manufacturer's directions.
Code 3-302.15 (C)
-
Not serious
Core
Repeat
THERMOMETERS - FUNCTIONALITY - INTEGRAL OR PERMANENTLY AFFIXED MEASURING DEVICE
Many walk-in units permanently affixed temperature measuring devices are not functioning.
Correction: Provide a integral or permanently affixed temperature measuring device.
Code 4-204.112 (B)
-
Not serious
Core
Repeat
NON-FOOD CONTACT SURFACES - CLEAN
Non-food contact surfaces of Hobart automatic wrapping machine are soiled with food debris.
Correction: Clean and remove dust, dirt, food residue, and other debris from all non-food contact surfaces of equipment.
Code 4-601.11 (C)
-
Not serious
Core
Repeat
INSECTS AND RODENTS - OUTER OPENINGS - SOLID, SELF-CLOSING AND TIGHT FITTING DOORS
The exterior door by the meat department as well as the loading dock door are not tight-fitting.
Correction: Provide a self-closing and tight fitting door to prevent the entrance of insects or rodents.
Code 6-202.15 (A) (3)
-
Not serious
Core
Repeat
CLEANING, FREQUENCY AND RESTRICTIONS
The walls and ceilings throughout the establishment, but especially in the deli area are soiled with dust accumulations.
Correction: Clean the physical facilities at a frequency necessary to keep them clean.
Code 6-501.12
-
Not serious
Priority Foundation
Repeat
-
Feb 2, 2026 Routine · 1 priority, 4 priority foundation, 5 core, 1 repeat
-
Serious
Priority
Repeat
TCS FOOD - COLD HOLDING
Numerous food items in the deli, meat and cookie dough / biscuit cooler are cold held at > 41°F.
Correction: Maintain cold time/temperature control for safety food at or below 41°F. Discard unsafe food items.
Code 3-501.16 (A) (2) AND (B)
-
Not serious
Priority Foundation
Corrected on site
PACKAGE INTEGRITY
Cookie Dough packaging is bloated. Pressurized carboard biscuit tube ruptured. Unit temp indicated 42 degrees F. Cookie Dough Temp 45 degrees F.
Correction: Discard any damaged boxes with food that is potentially contaminated or adulterated.
Code 3-202.15
-
Not serious
Priority Foundation
WASHING FRUITS AND VEGETABLES - DEVICES USED FOR CHEMICAL SANITIZATION
Device for onsite chemical generation for washing fruits and vegetable not used in accordance with manufacturer's directions. Unit is dispensing at < 30 PPM. Instructions indicate 30 to 60 PPM. Note - Test strips are expired (2023)
Correction: Use onsite chemical device according to manufacturer's directions.
Code 3-302.15 (C)
-
Not serious
Priority Foundation
HANDWASHING CLEANSER AVAILABILITY
Soap not available at meat department handwashing sink. Handwash soap does not stick to wall. Waiting on EcoLab to replace soap dispenser.
Correction: Provide hand soap at handwashing sink to facilitate proper handwashing.
Code 6-301.11
-
Not serious
Priority Foundation
HAND DRYING PROVISION
Single-use toweling dispenser is empty at meat department employee handwashing sink.
Correction: Provide single-use toweling or other approved devices at employee handwashing sink to facilitate proper handwashing.
Code 6-301.12
-
Not serious
Core
Corrected on site
EQUIPMENT AND UTENSILS - NONFOOD CONTACT SURFACES - DESIGNED
Cardboard box observed suspended over ceiling speaker inside meat walk-in cooler to dampen sound. The added material creates an unnecessary projection and is not smooth or easily cleanable.
Correction: Remove to allow proper cleaning and maintenance.
Code 4-202.16
-
Not serious
Core
THERMOMETERS - FUNCTIONALITY - INTEGRAL OR PERMANENTLY AFFIXED MEASURING DEVICE
Many walk-in units permanently affixed temperature measuring devices are not functioning.
Correction: Provide a integral or permanently affixed temperature measuring device.
Code 4-204.112 (B)
-
Not serious
Core
NON-FOOD CONTACT SURFACES - CLEAN
Non-food contact surfaces of Hobart automatic wrapping machine are soiled with food debris.
Correction: Clean and remove dust, dirt, food residue, and other debris from all non-food contact surfaces of equipment.
Code 4-601.11 (C)
-
Not serious
Core
INSECTS AND RODENTS - OUTER OPENINGS - SOLID, SELF-CLOSING AND TIGHT FITTING DOORS
The exterior door by the meat department as well as the loading dock door are not tight-fitting.
Correction: Provide a self-closing and tight fitting door to prevent the entrance of insects or rodents.
Code 6-202.15 (A) (3)
-
Not serious
Core
CLEANING, FREQUENCY AND RESTRICTIONS
The walls and ceilings throughout the establishment, but especially in the deli area are soiled with dust accumulations.
Correction: Clean the physical facilities at a frequency necessary to keep them clean.
Code 6-501.12
-
Serious
Priority
Repeat
-
Dec 30, 2025 Admin Follow Up · No items found
No violations cited.
-
Jan 20, 2025 Routine · 2 priority, 2 repeat
-
Serious
Priority
Repeat
TCS FOOD - COLD HOLDING
Raw chicken in the front bunker and lunchables in one of the meat bunkers is cold held at 46°F and higher.
Correction: Maintain cold time/temperature control for safety food at or below 41°F. Discard unsafe food items.
Code 3-501.16 (A) (2) AND (B)
-
Serious
Priority
Repeat
Corrected on site
FOOD CONTACT SURFACES - WAREWASHING EQUIPMENT, CHEMICAL, TEMPERATURE, pH, CONCENTRATION AND HARDNESS
The kay quat is not being used according to EPA registered label use instructions and is at >150 PPM in the sanitizer buckets and produce 3 compartment sink. Sanitizer buckets remade and produce will use deli/bakery sink until EcoLab can fix produce sink.
Correction: Provide training to employees on proper use and concentration of sanitizer or repair or adjust warewashing equipment to provide proper sanitizer concentration.
Code 4-501.114 (A) - (E)
-
Serious
Priority
Repeat
-
Dec 6, 2023 Follow Up · No items found
No violations cited.
-
Nov 28, 2023 Re-inspection · 2 priority, 1 priority foundation, 1 core, 4 repeat
-
Serious
Priority
Repeat
PACKAGED AND UNPACKAGED FOOD - RAW OVER RTE-FOODS
Meat display cooler. Pork chops under stuffed pork cutlet.
Correction: Reorganize food storage so that raw animal foods are organized by cook temperature. Discard ready-to-eat foods that show evidence of contamination.
Code 3-302.11 (A) (1)
-
Serious
Priority
Repeat
TCS FOOD - COLD HOLDING
Products in the display cooler near the entrance as well as near the meat department are above 41 degrees. PIC emptied TCS foods from the coolers during inspection.
Correction: Maintain cold time/temperature control for safety food at or below 41°F. Discard unsafe food items.
Code 3-501.16 (A) (2) AND (B)
-
Not serious
Priority Foundation
Repeat
ADEQUATE EQUIPMENT FOR TEMPERATURE CONTROL
Display coolers holding sausage and brats are not sufficient in capacity to hold foods at 41 degrees or colder.
Correction: Provide equipment in sufficient capacity to hold food at proper temperature. Reduce food inventory or provide additional approved equipment.
Code 4-301.11
-
Not serious
Core
Repeat
FOOD CONTAMINATION PREVENTED FROM PREMISE - OFF THE FLOOR
Numerous food products in the meat cooler, meat freezer and dry storage is stored on the floor. Additionally, stuffing in a watermelon box in large store room in on the floor.
Correction: Store all food items 6 inches above the floor.
Code 3-305.11 (A) (3)
-
Serious
Priority
Repeat
-
Nov 15, 2023 Routine · 5 priority, 3 priority foundation, 5 core, 2 repeat
-
Serious
Priority
Corrected on site
SAFE UNADULTERATED AND HONESTLY PRESENTED
Vollwerth Sausage packacge found swollen in display cooler.
Correction: Discard unsafe, adulterated or not honestly presented food items.
Code 3-101.11
-
Serious
Priority
PACKAGED AND UNPACKAGED FOOD - RAW OVER RTE-FOODS
Meat display cooler. Cooked steak stored under raw pork loin. Smoked fish under raw sausage. Raw pork chops under stuffed pork cutlet.
Correction: Reorganize food storage so that ready-to-eat foods are stored above raw animal food, and so raw animal foods are organized by cook temperature. Discard ready-to-eat foods that show evidence of contamination.
Code 3-302.11 (A) (1)
-
Serious
Priority
TCS FOOD - COLD HOLDING
Numerous products throughout the store are improperly cold held. Vollworth Sausage at 49.8 in front display cooler. Brats at 57.9 in display in meat department. Turkey at 45 thawing in meat bunker freezer. Shredded Cheese at 42.9 in dairy cheese display cooler.
Correction: Maintain cold time/temperature control for safety food at or below 41°F. Discard unsafe food items.
Code 3-501.16 (A) (2) AND (B)
-
Serious
Priority
FOOD CONTACT SURFACES - WAREWASHING EQUIPMENT, CHEMICAL, TEMPERATURE, pH, CONCENTRATION AND HARDNESS
The Kay QAC is not being used according to EPA registered label use instructions and is at 100 PPM.
Correction: Provide training to employees on proper use and concentration of sanitizer or repair or adjust warewashing equipment to provide proper sanitizer concentration. Upon obtaining new sanitizer in sink and bucket in deli area, concentrations were approximately 150 PPM. Recommend having Ecolab service sanitizer dispenser.
Code 4-501.114 (A) - (E)
-
Serious
Priority
FOOD CONTACT SURFACES - CLEANING FREQUENCY
Can opener used with time/temperature controlled for safety food is not cleaned every 4 hours.
Correction: Clean food contact surfaces used with time/temperature controlled for safety food a minimum of every 4 hours.
Code 4-602.11 (C)
-
Not serious
Priority Foundation
ASSIGNMENT
There is no designated person in charge (PIC) available at the time of inspection.
Correction: A person in charge shall be provided on premises at all times during hours of operation.
Code 2-101.11
-
Not serious
Priority Foundation
GRINDING RECORDS - PRESENT
Grinding records for raw ground beef were not available for 11/14/23 and 11/13/23.
Correction: Retail food establishments that grind beef for sale shall provide and maintain raw beef grinding records
Code 3-203.13 (A) and (D)
-
Not serious
Priority Foundation
ADEQUATE EQUIPMENT FOR TEMPERATURE CONTROL
Display coolers holding sausage and brats are not sufficient in capacity to hold foods at 41 degrees or colder.
Correction: Provide equipment in sufficient capacity to hold food at proper temperature. Reduce food inventory or provide additional approved equipment.
Code 4-301.11
-
Not serious
Core
Repeat
FOOD CONTAMINATION PREVENTED FROM PREMISE - OFF THE FLOOR
Numerous food products in the meat cooler, meat freezer and dry storage is stored on the floor. Additionally, stuffing in a watermelon box in large store room in on the floor.
Correction: Store all food items 6 inches above the floor.
Code 3-305.11 (A) (3)
-
Not serious
Core
PROPER COOLING METHODS USED - FROZEN FOOD
Frozen brew pub pizza and frozen turkey not maintained frozen.
Correction: Adjust procedures so that food that is frozen in a freezer is maintained frozen while being stored.
Code 3-501.11
-
Not serious
Core
THERMOMETERS - FUNCTIONALITY - INTEGRAL OR PERMANENTLY AFFIXED MEASURING DEVICE
Thermometers are not working on produce walk-in cooler and meat department display coolers.
Correction: Repair or replace thermometers to ensure accurate temperatures are maintained.
Code 4-204.112 (B)
-
Not serious
Core
SINGLE-USE AND SINGLE SERVICE ARTICLES - PROHIBITIONS
Single-use or single-service articles are being stored right side up in bakery. Numerous single use items are being stored on the floor in the meat department.
Correction: Store single-service or single-use articles, upside down so that they are not subject to contamination. Store single-use items off the ground.
Code 4-903.12
-
Not serious
Core
Repeat
CLEANING, FREQUENCY AND RESTRICTIONS
The ceiling in the deli/bakery is soiled and dusty..
Correction: Clean the physical facilities at a frequency necessary to keep them clean.
Code 6-501.12
-
Serious
Priority
Corrected on site
Source: Lincoln County Health Department. History last read Oct 15, 2026. Violation text is the inspector's wording. “Serious” is the source's own top tier. About this data.