Several Chattanooga area restaurants received low scores this week after Chattanooga-Hamilton County Health Department inspections.
An employee seen handling soiled equipment and then engaging in food preparation, flies seen in food prep areas, food being stored at improper temperatures and a manager unaware of employee illness policy symptoms and designated foodborne illness risk factors were among the reasons for the inferior marks.
Six eateries received perfect scores.
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.
No failures reported for the week ending July 23, 2019:
74 Sonic Drive-In
1016 LaFayette Road (NGA)
Observed employee handling soiled equipment or utensils then engage in food preparation, handle clean equipment or utensils, or touch unwrapped single-service items, without washing hands. Observed the same employee changing gloves without washing hands; also observed dirty lid to a container handled by gloved hands and then food related activities continued. Observed sliced tomatoes held at 49 degrees in the prep cooler beside the grill area. Repeat violation. Observed food service employee with long hair hanging down around cap; ineffective hair restraint. Observed numerous flies during the inspection within the confines of the Food Prep area.
75 Burger King
6404 Ringgold Road
Reasons including inadequate active managerial control not provided over foodborne illness risk factors at time of inspection. MOD unaware of employee illness policy symptoms and designated foodborne illnesses at time of inspection. Tacos (TCS food) holding at 132*F in holding unit. Must be 135*F or above. Employee observed changing times on already time stamped products to provide additional 4 hours. Flies noted in food prep areas/storage. Food debris noted on clean dishes/equipment. Convection oven dirty inside. Floors dirty in walk in cooler behind/underneath shelving.
83 University Pizza & Deli
430 Vine Street
Reasons including barehand contact with ready to eat foods. Raw foods stored above ready to eat foods in reach in cooler. Inadequate datemarking/disposition of ready-to-eat food products. In use utensils stored in standing water on cookline. Floors dirty behind/underneath equipment.
84 Cafe & Toast
3536 Cummings Highway
Reasons including raw beef stored above RTE foods and above eggs in homestyle cooler unit. Sanitizer too low at dish machine. Steamed rice sitting out at room temperature. Sliced tomatoes/cut leafy greens and sprouts sitting out at room temperature. Shelving lined with cardboard. Lighting not adequate in dry storage area.
86 El Fogon
8023 Hixson Pike
91 Alleia's
25 E. Main Street
92 La Fiesta Mexican Grill
8523 Hixson Pike
93 Saks Wing Shak
3911 Brainerd Road
95 Subway
7026 East Brainerd Road
95 Jeffersons
618 Georgia Avenue
95 Forbidden City
2273 Gunbarrel Road
96 Taco Bell #029049
2303 Dayton Blvd.
96 Asia Cafe
5210 Brainerd Road
97 Chattanooga Smoke House
416 East M L King Blvd.
98 BoJangles
9225 Lee Highway
98 O' Charley's #238
5031 Hixson Pike
98 Fermin Rios
3877 Hixson Pike
99 El Maguey
7001 Middle Valley Road
99 American Wings
4011 Brainerd Road
100 Zaxbys Store # 66101
7634 East Brainerd Road
100 Puckett's Chattanooga
2 West Aquarium Way
100 Jimmy Johns Deli
5111 Hixson Pike
100 Be Caffeinated
3601 Dayton Blvd.
100 Burger King
4827 Hixson Pike
100 Marco's Pizza
7794 East Brainerd Road
