Raw chicken, flies. 2 Macon restaurants get ‘C’s’ for ‘marginal compliance’

Two Macon restaurants received “C’s” for “marginal compliance” on routine health inspections in September with one cited for raw chicken at improper temperatures for food safety and both for flies inside the eateries.

Church’s Chicken at 5394 Thomaston Road scored a 73 at its routine inspection Sept. 9 and then a 70 at its follow-up inspection Sept. 22, according to what was reported Tuesday on the state department of health’s online portal.

Popeyes at 5590 Thomaston Road scored a 78 at its routine health inspection Sept. 8. But bounced back with a score of 96 for an “A” at its follow-up inspection the next day.

State Environmental Health inspectors assign grades based on how many points are deducted from 100, with scores at 69 and below for a “U” grade considered failing.

Restaurants and other food establishments that receive either a “U” or a “C” on a routine inspection are required to have follow-up inspections, which usually take place within 10 days of the routine inspection.

Marginal scores

At its Sept. 9 inspection, Church’s Chicken on Thomaston Road received its 73 score in part due to raw chicken left unattended in a prep area and raw chicken in a walk-in cooler above the required temperature for food safety.

According to the inspection report, other violations included:

• The environmental health inspector observed a “mold-like substance build-up” within the interior of the ice machine.
• An employee that preps chicken for frying did not have a beard guard.
• The facility did not have a bodily fluid kit for cleaning up vomit or diarrhea.
• The hot water handle for the left faucet of a three compartment sink was not working properly.
• Several flies were seen within the facility.
• A dead insect was within the rinse sink of a three compartment sink in the back of the restaurant.
• A cluttered area in the back next to a three compartment sink “could allow for harborage of pests.”
• Gaps were observed within an exit door of the facility when closed; the threshold was damaged.
• Floors around and within corners had excessive debris build-up.
• Debris was observed on all sink handles, around and on an ice machine panel and on other equipment surfaces.

At its follow-up inspection, Church’s Chicken’s score of 70 was in part due to 10 boxes of raw chicken within a walk-in cooler being above the required temperature for food safety.

Other pans of raw chicken in the walk-in cooler were also above the required temperature for food safety, according to the inspection report.

Other violations included:

• Coleslaw and lettuce within the walk- in cooler were above the required temperature for food safety.
• A cooked plate of corn within a warmer was not at the required temperature for food safety.
• The restaurant did not have a temperature measuring device to check food.
• The restaurant’s most recent health inspection was not displayed for public viewing as required.
• The person in charge at the restaurant could not provide the environmental health inspector with required forms in which they agree to report about their health and activities related to diseases that are transmissible through food.
• The facility still did not have a bodily fluid kit for cleaning up vomit or diarrhea.
• Gaps within an exit door of the facility when closed; damage to the threshold were again noted.

At its Sept. 8 inspection, a Thomaston Road Popeyes’ score of 78 was due in part due to pans of raw chicken stored above liquid butter dressing.

Spicy mayonnaise also had spilled into regular mayonnaise at a prep top cooler, according to the inspection report.

Other violations included:

• An employee handling chicken preparation and frying was not wearing hair restraint or beard guard.
• Food debris was stuck to the underside of the prep top cooler lid.
• Water at the female and male bathroom hand sinks were not reaching the required temperature.

The restaurant came back with a near perfect score at its follow-up inspection but was again cited for “several flies within the facility.”

How did other restaurants, food trucks fare?

Most restaurants and food trucks in Macon-Bibb County earned “A’s” on their routine health inspections for the reporting period of Sept. 1-30. More than a dozen of those earned perfect scores of 100.

Eight other restaurants received “B’s” while no eatery received a failing grade of “U.”

Best scores

Here are the restaurants and food trucks with perfect scores of 100:

• Anderson’s Country Kitchen, 1224 Eisenhower Parkway
• Five Guys, 120 Tom Hill Sr. Blvd.
• HypeWing, 5966 Zebulon Road
• LaBell Morelia Tacos y Frutas at Smiley’s Flea Market, 6717 Hawkinsville Road
• MAC Food Truck
• McDonald’s, 1450 Rocky Creek Road
• Medi’s Mediterranean Fusion Restaurant, 1687 Bass Road
• Ribbons Cafe, 800 First St.
• Rubix Cube LLC at Smiley’s Flea Market, 6717 Hawkinsville Road
• Satterfield Barbecue, 120 New St.
• Satterfield on Wheels
• Starbucks, 4640 Forsyth Road
• Taco Mac, 5433 Bowman Road
• Taco Sige at Smiley’s Flea Market, 6717 Hawkinsville Road
• US Deli, 1477 Pio Nono Ave., Suite 101
• Your Pie, 536 Poplar St.

Here’s how the scores are graded:

• “A” for a score from 90 to 100 for “food safety excellence.”
• “B” for a score from 80 to 89 for “satisfactory compliance.”
• “C” for a score from 70 to 79 for “marginal compliance.”
• “U” for a score of 69 or less for “unsatisfactory compliance.”

Restaurant inspections are designed to protect public health. The Telegraph reviews inspection reports monthly.