HARRISBURG -- The same day a food service executive apologized for unsanitary conditions that forced the Capitol cafeteria to shut down for three weeks, health inspectors found more rodent droppings and other unsanitary conditions.

The inspection was conducted Monday, even as the House State Government Committee grilled an Aramark executive about problems uncovered in a December inspection.

According to an inspection report released Tuesday, inspectors found rodent droppings in food preparation areas, including in a mixing bowl. Among other problems, they found that barrels of pickles were being stored on the floor, that chicken and hotdogs were not being kept at the proper temperature, that a bottle of chocolate sauce was not refrigerated, that a hair net was in a sink and that boxes blocked access to a hand-washing sink.

The violations did not require the cafeteria to be closed.

"All but two of the violations found Monday afternoon were corrected immediately and the remaining items were corrected overnight," Aramark spokeswoman Sarah Jarvis said Wednesday. "The cafe is in compliance."

According to Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding, the unannounced walk-through was intended to ensure Philadelphia-based Aramark was implementing proper food safety protocols and procedures. None of the violations required the facility to close under state law.

"We are disappointed in the number of violations found on Jan. 25, especially after Aramark assured us that they had improved their operations after the state closed the facility last month," Mr. Redding said.

James Creedon, secretary of the Department of General Services, which oversees buildings and grounds, is disappointed, too.

"We continue to be frustrated by Aramark's lack of attention to detail since the violations found on Jan. 25 could easily have been corrected," he said. "It was made very clear to Aramark that they are accountable for managing the Capitol Cafeteria properly, maintaining a clean food preparation environment, and training staff to follow proper protocols."

Continued violations could jeopardize Aramark's contract, which expires in May 2012.

During a House State Government Committee meeting, Aramark Vice President Bruce Walton apologized for the problems, described staffing changes in the cafeteria and said his company was taking health concerns seriously.

The cafeteria is frequented by lawmakers, state employees, lobbyists and tourists. Students on class trips also eat in the cafeteria but usually bring bag lunches.

Mr. Redding said his department would continue to conduct unannounced inspections regularly for at least the next six months.

Before December, the cafeteria had not been inspected in four years.

Ms. Jarvis said Aramark will supplement the Department of Agriculture's inspections with its own internal audits and surprise inspections by an independent third party.

Meanwhile, Mr. Redding is asking the Senate to approve legislation that would give the Department of Agriculture stronger oversight of restaurants. The bill already has passed the House.

Opponents have said that existing laws prohibit the kind of violations found in the cafeteria, and that new laws won't help.

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