Oconee Restaurant Inspections: Mold Growth Observed at Four of Six Businesses Recently Inspected

Here is a list of Oconee County establishments that have undergone routine health inspections recently. All information was obtained from the Northeast Georgia Health District's health scores website.

Each kitchen is given a score, and any violations are listed online. The restaurant or cafeteria is categorized as low risk if there are no critical violations and a score of 90 or more is achieved. For a food establishment to be categorized as high risk, one or more critical violations must be found.

Any restaurant with a failing grade — a score of 70 or less — receives a follow-up inspection within 10 days.

The Big Easy Coffee House & Café at 20 B Greensboro Highway, Watkinsville

Score: 87

Inspection date: June 21, 2013

Between low risk and high risk — No critical violations noted but a score of 90 not achieved

Critical violation:

• Violation of : 6-1A. Proper cold holding temperatures — Potentially hazardous foods not 41 degrees or below at make table. Corrective action: Items discarded. Person in charge advised to maintain potentially hazardous foods at 41 degrees or below in cold holding. Service unit if unable to maintain proper temps. Do not use for potentially hazardous food storage until functioning properly.

Non-critical violations:

• Violation of : 12A. Contamination prevented during food preparation, storage & display — Outside grill station not properly enclosed. *REPEAT
• Violation of : 12B. Personal cleanliness — Food worker not wearing proper hair restraint.
  

Krimson Kafe at 40 Greensboro Highway, Watkinsville

Score: 94

Inspection date: June 19, 2013

Low risk — No critical violations

Non-critical violations:

• Violation of : 4-2B. Food-contact surfaces: cleaned & sanitized — Mold in the ice machine. Corrective action: Clean on a routine basis (weekly).
• Violation of : 14C. Single-use/single-service articles: properly stored, used — Plates under counter not inverted (place in a closed container or invert). Single service clear cups not in a plastic sleeve (lip portion exposed).
• Violation of : 15A. Food and nonfood-contact surfaces cleanable, properly designed, constructed, and used — Ice build-up on prep cooler condensor. Tall reach-in not working. Will order a new commercial grade cooler. Send spec sheets before purchasing.

Chops & Hops at 2 S. Main St., Suite 11, Watkinsville

Score: 71

Inspection date: June 18, 2013

High risk — One or more critical violations:

• Violation of : 2-1B. Hands clean and properly washed — Employees not washing hands at glove change. Person in charge advised that employees must wash hands with each glove change. Corrected on site: Employee followed procedure before continuing with food preparation.
• Violation of : 5-1B. Proper reheating procedures for hot holding — Sauces not reheated to 165 prior to hot holding. Person in charge advised that reheating of potentially hazardous food for hot holding must reach 165. Corrected on site: Sauces reheated to 165.

Non-critical violations:

• Violation of : 4-2B. Food-contact surfaces: cleaned & sanitized — Mold growth in ice machine. Person in charge advised to clean ice machine frequently enough to preclude growth of mold.
• Violation of : 12B. Personal cleanliness — Employee not wearing hair restraint during food preparation. Person in charge advised that all employees must wear effective hair restraint during food preparation. Corrected on site: Employee donned ball cap.
• Violation of : 14A. In-use utensils: properly stored — Tong storage on handle of oven. Person in charge advised to store tongs between uses on clean and sanitized tray. *REPEAT
• Violation of : 15A. Food and nonfood-contact surfaces cleanable, properly designed, constructed, and used — Cutting boards show deep cuts and marks. Person in charge advised to resurface or replace worn boards. *REPEAT
• Violation of : 15C. Nonfood-contact surfaces clean Water, Plumbing and Waste — Mold growth on fan guard in walk-in cooler. Person in charge advised to clean fan guard frequently enough to prevent mold growth. *REPEAT

Girasoles Inc. at 24 Greensboro Highway, Watkinsville

Score: 89

Inspection date: June 18, 2013

High risk — One or more critical violations:

• Violation of : 4-1A. Food separated and protected — Raw calamari stored with cooked shrimp (prep cooler). Raw chicken stored over lettuce in the meat cooler. Corrected on site: Moved all ready to eat foods above raw foods in both coolers.)

Non-critical violation:

• Violation of : 17C. Physical facilities installed, maintained, and clean — Leak in the ceiling located in the office/beer storage room. Floor at ice machine has epoxy paint chipped/wearing.

Piccolo’s Italian Steak House at 2061 Suite A Hog Mountain Road, Watkinsville

Score: 87

Inspection date: June 18, 2013

Between low risk and high risk — No critical violations noted but a score of 90 not achieved

Non-critical violations:

• Violation of : 4-2B. Food-contact surfaces: cleaned & sanitized — Food debris dried on can opener blade. Person in charge advised to clean and sanitize can opener frequently enough to prevent debris build-up. Corrected on site: Can opener cleaned and sanitized.
• Violation of : 8-2B. Toxic substances properly identified, stored, used — Chemical spray bottles stored without label as to contents. Person in charge advised to label spray bottles using common name of contents.
• Violation of : 14A. In-use utensils: properly stored — Tongs storage on oven handle in kitchen. Person in charge advised to store tongs between uses on clean and sanitized tray.
• Violation of : 14B. Utensils, equipment and linens: properly stored, dried, handled — Coffee filters stored unprotected on coffee machine. Person in charge advised to store filters on container with tight fitting lid.
• Violation of : 15C. Nonfood-contact surfaces clean Water, Plumbing and Waste — Food debris accumulated on underside of shelf at hot hold table, mold growth on fan guard in walk-in cooler. Person in charge advised to clean shelf and fan guard frequently enough to prevent accumulation.  
• Violation of : 16B. Plumbing installed; proper backflow devices — Read hand sink has leak at faucet. Person in charge advised to repair faucet leak at hand sink.
• Violation of : 17B. Garbage/refuse properly disposed; facilities maintained — Lid of Dumpster left open after last use. Person in charge advised to close Dumpster after each use.
• Violation of : 17C. Physical facilities installed, maintained, and clean — Dust accumulation on ceiling vent in kitchen. Person in charge advised to clean vent frequently enough to prevent dust build-up.
• Violation of : 17D. Adequate ventilation and lighting; designated areas used — Purse storage on shelf with latex gloves. Person in charge advised to store personal items on designated location in office separate from food, equipment and single service items.

Waffle House Unit No. 1662 at 8000 U.S. Highway 441, Macon Highway, Watkinsville

Score: 86

Inspection date: June 18, 2013

Between low risk and high risk — No critical violations noted but a score of 90 not achieved

Non-critical violations:

• Violation of : 8-2B. Toxic substances properly identified, stored, used — Chemical spray bottle without label as to contents. Person in charge advised that spray bottles must be labeled using common name of contents.
• Violation of : 10D. Properly labeled; original container; required records: shellstock tags — Expired dessert topping stored in walk-in cooler. Person in charge advised that commercially packaged food may not be held for sale beyond sell by date.
• Violation of : 14D. Gloves used properly — Employee observed handling raw bacon and sausage with gloved hands, then continuing to prepare cooked food and handling spatula wearing soiled gloves. Person in charge advised that employees must change gloves after handling raw meats and prior to handling ready to eat foods or utensils.
• Violation of : 15C. Nonfood-contact surfaces clean Water, Plumbing and Waste — Mold observed on gasket of walk-in cooler. Person in charge advised to clean gasket frequently enough to preclude mold growth.
• Violation of : 17C. Physical facilities installed, maintained, and clean — Grease and food debris on floor in dry goods room and beneath three-compartment sink. Person in charge advised to clean floor beneath shelves and sink frequently enough to prevent build-up of debris. *REPEAT
• Violation of : 18. Insects, rodents, and animals not present — Live flies observed in establishment. Person in charge advised to have pest control treat facility for flies.