The following are among the food service establishments inspected from Dec. 5-11 by the Hall County Environmental Health Department. New rules and regulations for food service began on Dec. 1, 2007. Food service establishments will now be given a letter grade that coincides with a percentile: "A" (90-100), "B" (80-89), "C" (70-79), "U" 69 and below. Inspections (frequency of) a food service establishment will be conducted based on risk categorization. The risk type shall be determined by the menu items served, the food preparation processed performed, and the previous food safety history in the food service establishment. A new food service establishment that has never served food must score 100 (A) to receive a food service permit to operate. When a restaurant changes ownership, a new food service permit must be issued. To be issued a food service permit for a change of ownership, the establishment must score a 95 (A) or above with all Foodborne Illness Risk factors and Public Health Interventions in compliance.
Permits must be posted in public view at all times. Food service establishments with drive-through windows will also be required to have the top one-third of a copy of the most current inspection report visible through each window allowing customers to easily read the score, date of inspection and establishment information, in addition to the copy posted inside the establishment. Copies of the new rules are available at the Hall County Environmental health Office. The rules and regulations are also available online at health.state.ga.us/programs/envservices/index.asp.
To register a complaint against a food service establishment, contact the Hall County Environmental Health Department at 770-531-3973.
Dec. 5
Biscuit Shop
1724 Park Hill Place, Gainesville
Score: 70, Grade: C
Food handler assembling biscuits, meat and eggs without gloves, deli tissue or a suitable utensil for handling food. Manual dishwashing being done incorrectly. No stem thermometer available for monitoring cooked and hot-held and cold-held foods. Food handlers without hair restraint. Wiping cloths stored in containers heavy with food debris. Boxes of sweetener etc. stored on floor under front counter. Grease container with grease spilled all down front of container and on concrete pad around container. Floor needs good cleaning at floor/wall juncture, especially under three-compartment sink. Walls need good cleaning behind biscuit table and behind ansul system hardware on wall. Ceiling panels missing in kitchen. Fluorescent lights over three-compartment sink missing end caps to seal lights in plastic sheath (provided). All fluorescent lights need cleaning - dusty, greasy. No screen in back window that is propped open in kitchen. No consumer advisory posted for eggs cooked to order.
Inspector: Laurie Wentworth
Sonic Drive-In
805 Dawsonville Highway, Gainesville
Score: 83, Grade: B
Back steam unit (cook/hold unit) holding foods - chicken, eggs, sausage patties- below required 135 degrees F holding temperature. Temps ranged from 113-132 degrees F. Appeared to have been too much water in steam unit allowing heat to escape around "floating" pans. Sandwich cooler with condensate leak inside allowing water to puddle on left side of inside cabinet. Exposed insulation inside ice machine cooler. Cooler gaskets need cleaning - accumulation of food debris in them. Gaskets are also split allowing for food to accumulate in them. Dumpster area needs cleaning. Tomato slicer, lemon wedger with dried food debris. Inspector: Wentworth
Motel 6
1585 Monroe Drive, Gainesville
Score: 98, Grade: A
Clean toilets in room 143. Replace carpets in rooms 229, 236, 244 because of burns.
Inspector: Donna Black
Hampton Inn & Suites
4660 Holland Dam Road, Flowery Branch
Score: 100, Grade: A. Inspector: Black
Dec. 8
Pizza Hut
1501 Browns Bridge Road, Gainesville
Score: 72, Grade: C
Can opener with build-up of food debris/metal shavings on blade and around blade. Pizza pans, breadstick pans all stored with food debris in them after cleaning and sanitizing. Dishwasher not dispensing sanitizer during final rinse. Tea nozzle with mold buildup. BBQ and cheese labeled with more than seven days for discard date. Repeat violation: No sanitizer test strips available for chlorine sanitizer being used in dishmachine or QUAT sanitizer automatically dispensed and used in cloth storage containers. Customers cannot view inspection that is posted. Repeat violation: Wire racks - shelving for utensil storage and rolling shelving in proofers - with build-up of grease and dust. Repeat violation: Hood over fryers in Wing Street area with dripping grease. Ceiling dusty around vents. Missing grate over vent in dishroom. Light shield broken over pizza make line. Missing light shield (plastic sheaths with end caps) over fluorescent light above salad bar. Repeat violation: Floors need cleaning at floor/wall juncture - especially behind equipment - accumulations of food/grease can be attraction for insects/FRP juncture need repair in dishwashing area. Repeat violation: Door sweep damaged at back door and door itself does not fit tight in frame to prevent possible insect/rodent entry. Repeat violation: Pasta/cheese/sauce bake on hot bar not holding at required 135 degrees F. Women's restroom without required covered container for sanitary napkins.
Inspector: Wentworth
Burger King
Mundy Mill Road, P.O. Box 6305, Gainesville
Score: 94, Grade: A
Sanitizer buckets in vegetable sink. Equipment on a piece of cardboard on a rack. Exterior surfaces of grease collection container dripping. Floors throughout kitchen have an accumulation of food, debris, trash, especially under soft drink bag-in-boxes. Hood ventilation system over french fry cooking area has dripping grease.
Inspector: Kathleen McDuffie
Buffalo's Cafe
3446 Winder Highway, Flowery Branch
Score: 88, Grade: B
Repeat violation: Cutting boards have embedded mold/mildew. Spinach artichoke dip cooling on counter at 90 degrees F. Shrimp thawing in a pan of water in sink. Gaskets on cooler drawers in cook area have an accumulation of food, water, and debris; one gasket is heavily damaged. Repeat violation: Floors throughout kitchen have food, water, trash, etc.; cove tiling is missing in several areas.
Inspector: McDuffie
Georgia Mountains Center
301 Main St., Gainesville
Score: 98, Grade: A
Freezer fan guard has accumulation of dust and needs regular cleaning.
Inspector: Lydia Hoffman
Turnstile Deli/Falcons Complex
4400 Falcon Parkway, Flowery Branch
Score: 96, Grade: A
Veggies and cobbler thawing at room temperature in sinks and on countertops. Pans and containers stored wet-nested.
Inspector: Hoffman
Dec. 11
Bottom of the Cup Golf
7435 Spout Springs Road No. 101, Flowery Branch
Score: 88, Grade: B
Foods not covered in coolers. Plates, knives and other utensils with food debris. Foods not being labeled with expiration dates. Store all knives and other utensils in cleanable containers and not into sides of cardboard boxes. Shelves and inside of microwaves need to be kept clean. Floors with grease/food residue.
Inspector: Black
Lula's Pizza Depot
6018 Athens St., Gainesville
Score: 85, Grade: B
Salad dressings put into individual servings not carrying same as original product. Repeat violation: Door gaskets on pizza make line cooler are cracked and have allowed for condensation food to accumulate in crack. Chili held on steam table not held at required 135 degrees F.
Inspector: Wentworth
Megan Gill