Moldy cucumbers contribute to this Macon restaurant failing its routine inspection

A Macon restaurant failed its routine inspection in October but bounced back the next day with a near perfect score, while another Macon restaurant failed a required follow-up inspection after earning a “C” during its routine inspection the same month.

M&H Wings at 5013 Harrison Road, Unit B, earned a failing grade of “U” during its routine inspection Oct. 12 with a score of 55, according to what’s reported in the Georgia Department of Public Health’s online portal. The restaurant came back with a 99 for an “A” at its required follow-up inspection on Oct 13.

A Subway at 5451 Bowman Road, Suite 440, received a “U” with a score of 55 at its follow-up inspection Monday after earning a “C” with a score of 73 at its routine inspection Oct. 25.

Most other Bibb County restaurants earned “A’s” on their routine inspections Oct. 1-31, including nearly a dozen with perfect scores of 100. A half a dozen earned “B’s” and two received “C’s.”

Failing grades

M&M Wings — A bag and a half of cucumber covered in mold spots inside a walk-in cooler contributed to the failing grade for this restaurant, according to the inspection report.

The health inspector also saw chicken stored behind raw shrimp in a “make table,” also known as a prep table, and unopened sliced ham stored in a container with packaged ham on top in the walk-in cooler.

Pickles also were seen stored uncovered in the prep table and lettuce heads in a bucket were stored uncovered in the walk-in cooler, according to the report.

Additionally, the health inspector also saw “par cooked wings” in a basket over a fryer at a temperature outside of the required temperature range, the report said.

The health inspector also watched an employee wash and rinse serving trays and utensils and place them on the drainboard without sanitizing them.

At prior routine inspections, the restaurant scored an 81 for a “B” on Sept. 2, 2021, a 90 for an “A” on Feb. 8, 2021 and a 94 for an “A” on Dec. 13, 2019.

Subway #29122 — “Several time/temperature control for food safety cold holding foods” were above the temperature required for food safety, according to the report.

The health inspector saw an employee prepare a sandwich, then run a cash register, then prepare another sandwich without washing her hands between running the cash register and preparing the second sandwich. She did change gloves but did not wash her hands in between changing gloves as required, according to the inspection report.

Also, an employee prepared a sandwich without a hair restraint and an employee made a sandwich while wearing a bracelet, the report read.

Other violations include sticker residue on clean food pans on a drying rack of three compartment sinks to failing to display the restaurant’s food service permit in public view.

At prior inspections, the restaurant scored an 81 for a “B” at a followup inspection Jan. 28, 2022 from a routine inspection Jan. 25, 2022 in which it received a 71 for a “C.”

The restaurant also scored a 91 for an “A” at a followup inspection April 27, 2021, after receiving a “C” with a score of 74 at an April 19, 2021 routine inspection. The restaurant earned an “A” with a score of 90 at its routine inspection Aug. 31, 2020.

Perfect scores

• Biddy’s, 946 First Street
• Chick-fil-A, 5055 Brookhaven Road
• Harp & Bowl La Bistro, 520 Mulberry St.
• Loom at Hotel Forty Five, 401 Cotton Ave.
• KFC, 844 Shurling Drive
• Krystal, 892 Riverside Drive
• Shurling Seafood, 737 Shurling Drive
• Subway, 6020 Harrison Road
• Waffle House, 840 Riverside Drive

State health inspectors assign grades based on how many points are deducted from 100, with scores of 69 and below considered failing.

Here’s how the scores are graded: “A” for a score between 90 and 100 that indicates “food safety excellence.” “B” for a score between 80 and 89, considered “satisfactory compliance,” and “C” for “marginal compliance’‘ for a score between 70 and 79. A “U” for “unsatisfactory compliance” is given when a restaurant scores a 69 or less.

Restaurant inspections are designed to protect public health. The Telegraph reviews inspection reports monthly and generally reports only the best and the worst scores.