Chattanooga restaurant fails inspection due to cook’s failure to wash hands properly, employees handling food with bare hands

A downtown Chattanooga restaurant has failed a recent health inspection for several reasons, including a cook found to be washing their hands improperly.

Hunan Wok, located at 2201 E. 23rd Street, received a failing score of 55 after employees were found handling ready-to-eat foods with their bare hands. Managerial control was also not providing for foodborne illness risk factors at the time of inspection.

Various food products, including eggs, were not from approved sources and several surfaces were dirty, including “cleaned” dishes. Food products were also left uncovered and personal items were being stored in food areas.

______

The Chattanooga-Hamilton County Health Department inspects restaurants twice a year and grades the businesses on a 100-point scale. Scores below 70 require corrective action.

Restaurants are reinspected if they fail to meet critical standards. To file a health-related complaint, call the Department of Environmental Health at 209-8110. The scores are original and do not reflect on-the-spot changes, which sometimes lead to upward adjustments.

One failure reported for the week ending Aug. 27, 2019:

55 Hunan Wok

2201 E. 23rd Street; Reasons including active managerial control not provided for foodborne illness risk factors at time of inspection. Cook not properly washing hands. Cook not using soap to properly wash hands at the food prep sink, and drying them on personal apron. Employees handing RTE food products with bare hands. Food products not from approved sources. Eggs not from an approved source. Numerous food/non-food contact surfaces dirty throughout facility. Uncovered/unprotected food products noted in walk in cooler. Food debris noted on clean dishes. Refuse containers left open. Personal items stored in food areas.

80 Melodee’s Diner

3904 Ringgold Road; Reasons including adequate demonstration of knowledge regarding foodborne illness risk factors not provided. Raw animal foods in walk in cooler not stored according to minimum internal cooking temperatures. Raw proteins stored above RTE food products. Some foods not date properly marked in walk in cooler. Frozen foods not adequately frozen in walk in freezer. Some food products not properly covered/protected in walk in cooler.Wet wiping cloths stored on working surfaces and not in sanitizer solution.Cold water not operable at hand basin adjacent to cookline.

86 Track End Restaurant

3435 Amnicola Highway; Reasons including dish machine was proper sanitizer, sink system was not was 0ppm. Mac and cheese in cooler 93 after 4 hours. Cold hold one case holding food at 45-53. Tuna, slaw, ham sliced all discarded. Using plastic cup meant for service and no handle on scoop in tuna salad.

93 Delias Mexican Food

8363 Dayton Pike

93 Panda Express

2260 Gunbarrel Road

93 Wendy’s

7019 Shallowford Road

94 Ayala

1832 Taft Highway

94 Waffle House

6007 Shallowford Road

94 517 Subs

1238 Taft Highway

94 Fresh Burger Grill

8968 Dayton Pike

95 El Meson

248 Northgate Mall Road

95 Burger King

2119 E. 23rd Street

96 El Cortez

9203 Lee Highway

96 Fortune House

1210 Taft Highway

97 Kentucky Fried Chicken

10161 Dayton Pike

97 Aubrey’s

496 Northgate Mall Drive

97 Firehouse Subs

5546 Highway 153

97 China Moon

5600 Brainerd Road

98 Burger King

10180 Dayton Pike

98 Thai Spice

5910 Reagan Lane

98 Chili’s Grill & Bar

1921 Gunbarrel Road

98 Zaxby’s

7328 Shallowford Road

99 Red Robin Gourmet Burgers

2100 Hamilton Place Blvd.

99 Mean Mug Coffee House

205 Manufacturer’s Road

99 Jimmy Johns

7407 Igou Gap Road

100 Dippin’ Dots

2100 Hamilton Place Blvd.

100 Starbucks Coffee

1951 Gunbarrel Road

100 Mission BBQ

1926 Gunbarrel Road

100 Sofa King Juicy Burger

1743 Dayton Blvd.

100 El Jinete

5559 Little Debbie Parkway

100 Einstein Bros Bagels

5237 Hixson Pike