Know Before You Go: Restaurant Health Inspections

Results of recent Gwinnett County restaurant inspections in Snellville by East Metro Public Health with a synopsis of deficiencies found by the inspector. These are reports over the past week. 

To see more inspections, visit East Metro’s searchable website.

April 18:

Name: Hot N Cold Buffet Restaurant
Location: 2302 Highway 78
Score: 74/C
Previous Scores: 90/A (Feb. 9, 2011); 77/C (Jan. 31, 2011)
Deficiencies observed:

• Several utensils, such as knives, were stored on the wall, and a large mixer in the food prep area was being stored with visible food debris. (All equipment not in use should be cleaned when stored.)
• Potentially hazardous foods such as baby corn and chicken, and beef in the prep coolers were found to be above 41 degrees.
• Foods, such as the cooked corn and pizza, that should be warm were below the designated temperature of 135 degrees.
• Cooked and potentially hazardous foods not cooled from 135 degrees to 41 degrees within a total of 6 hours. The food had to be thrown out.
• Written procedures regarding time control not prepared at eatery.
• Several butane lighters were being stored above the food prep areas. Lighters are to be stored away from food and food contact surfaces because of the potential for contamination.
• Large container of sugar in the food prep area and several smaller containers of spices were being stored in containers without labels present. This was a repeat violation.
• Shellfish tags and packaging not kept in order
• Potentially hazardous foods not properly cooled by effective methods, such as shallow pans or ice water bath. Several pans of cooked foods were observed cooling in the walk in cooler, instead.
• While not in use, food preparation and dispensing utensils were not stored with their handles above the top of the food and the container. For example, the scoops in the sugar container were stored with handle down in the sugar. facing up.
• Metal pans not being dried by air after being washed. This was a repeat violation.

April 19:

Name: Annistown Elementary
Location: 3150 Spain Road
Score: 97/A
Previous Scores: 91/A (Oct. 13, 2010), 100/A (March 5, 2010)
Deficiencies observed: Observed apples placed in a container near the registers unshielded. According to the health report, apples must be washed and then covered to protect them from contamination. Unlike bananas and oranges, apples do not have a protective peel.

Name: Atlantic Buffet Sushi and Grill
Location: 2059 Scenic Highway, Suite 117
Score: 100/A
Previous Scores: N/A
Deficiencies observed: None

Name: Peace Wave
Location: 1350 Scenic Highway, No. 824
Score: 79/C
Previous Scores: 91/A (Dec. 10, 2010), 97/A (Oct. 29, 2010)
Deficiencies observed:

• Person in charge at time of inspection was not CFSM and could not provide answers to basic food safety questions relevant to the facility and its operations. This was a repeat violation.
• Person in charge did not know what the employee health policy was and could not identify when to exclude and restrict employees etc. This was a repeat violation.
• Hand sink had several utensils being stored in it during the inspection. According to the report, hand sinks should not be used to store or wash utensils and should only be used for hand washing only.
• Residential use pesticide was found being held in the facility, though none are supposed to be stored in a food service establishment
• Several packages of cookies and other items were being stored directly on the floor. Food is supposed to be store at least 6 inches above the floor.  
• Wiping cloth found stored on top of yogurt machine, though it should have been stored in sanitizing solution.
• No test paper for chlorine used as a sanitizer. This was a repeat violation.

Name: Subway
Location: 3435 Centerville Highway/ Highway 124
Score: 96/A
Previous Scores: 95/A (Oct. 16, 2010), 93/A (Jan. 28, 2010)
Deficiencies observed: Two bottles were found without a label. One of these two identical bottles contained a degreaser and one contained water