The following are among the food service establishments inspected from Nov.12-18 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.
To register a complaint against a food service establishment, contact the Hall County Environmental Health Department at 770-531-3973.
Nov. 12
Valentine Deli and Cafe
3170 Frontage Road, Suite C, Gainesville
Score: 88, Grade: B
Sandwich make line not holding food at required 41 degrees. Food handler without proper hair restraint. Wiping cloths not stored in provided sanitizer between uses.
Inspector: Laurie Wentworth
El Paisa
272 A Dawsonville Highway, Gainesville
Score: 86, Grade: B
Cooked rice placed on steam table from cooler to reheat. Stem thermometers and thermometer in prep cooler not accurate. Knives being stored in crack between prep table and coolers. Test strips missing for sanitizer.
Inspector: Donna Black
Nov. 13
Country Road Buffett
1703 Cleveland Highway, Gainesville
Score: 99, Grade: A
Ceiling peeling paint in several areas.
Inspector: Black
McDonald’s Restaurant
3183 Frontage Road, Gainesville
Score: 90, Grade: A
Mold, mildew in ice machine; tea nozzles with buildup. Make line cooler struggling. Thermometers not visible, missing from several coolers. Water, soda syrup leaking onto single serve items under consumers’ self-service drink station. Gaskets torn on several coolers, freezers. Hand sink no longer attached to wall. Accumulation of mold, mildew, food, water on gaskets. Both dumpsters open. FRP and cove molding coming away from wall under three-compartment sink; cove missing along adjacent wall; floors in storage area and walls and floors under three-compartment sink with accumulation of mold, mildew; floors by carbonizer need better cleaning.
Inspector: Kathleen McDuffie
Dairy Queen
3156 Frontage Road, Gainesville
Score: 100, Grade: A
Inspector: McDuffie
Waffle House No. 615
3175 Frontage Road, Oakwood
Score: 98, Grade: A
Gaskets torn on several coolers, freezers. Gaskets have accumulation of food, water, etc. Cove molding missing in dry stock room, cove loose and grout missing under three-compartment sink.
Inspector: McDuffie
Nov. 18
Hibachi Express
3885 Mundy Mill Road, Suite 104, Oakwood
Score: 100, Grade: A
Inspector: Wentworth
Jennifer Messer