News Summary
Recent health inspections in the Huntsville area have uncovered multiple violations in various restaurants, raising serious food safety concerns. Huntsville Hospital’s kitchen received a low score of 76, with issues like inadequate dish sanitization and unsafe food temperatures reported. Tellini’s and Stoney River Steakhouse also scored poorly, highlighting similar health and safety violations. Other establishments, including Edgar’s Bakery and the Marathon gas station mini-mart, faced serious challenges in maintaining food safety standards, emphasizing the need for improved hygiene practices in local dining.
Huntsville Area Restaurants Face Health Inspection Violations
Health inspections conducted in the Huntsville area have revealed multiple violations across various restaurants, highlighting serious concerns regarding food safety and hygiene. Notably, Huntsville Hospital’s main campus kitchen scored a low 76 due to several critical issues that raise alarms about the safety of the meals prepared there.
Key violations at Huntsville Hospital included a dishwashing sink that did not reach the necessary temperature to effectively sanitize dishes and utensils. Additionally, inspectors found black residue in the ice chute, and melons and salads were held at temperatures above recommended levels. Moreover, the kitchen staff could not provide a written copy of a specific food safety procedure upon request.
Tellini’s on Perimeter Parkway also scored a troubling 76, tying for the lowest rating. During the inspection, authorities discovered a two-week-old steak and week-old sausage well past their discard dates. Further concerns included a rusted pan, a chipped spatula, residue in the ice machine, and multiple food temperature violations, putting patrons at risk of foodborne illnesses.
Stoney River Steakhouse in Clift Farm, with a score of 80, noted that an unlabeled bottle was present in the kitchen, alongside residue in the bar nozzle and absence of sanitizer in the dishwasher. Several food temperature violations were also recorded.
Other establishments with concerning health inspection scores include Big Bad Breakfast rated at 83, which had a problematic bar nozzle and employees washing bottles in the handwashing sink; Moe’s Original Bar-B-Que also at 84, where baked beans were found at improper temperatures and damaged food contact surfaces were detected. Similarly, Schlotzsky’s on Wall Triana scored 84 for allowing an employee to handle bread with bare hands, leading to additional food temperature violations.
The Marathon gas station mini-mart on Highway 72 received a score of 84 after being cited for black residue in the ice machine and blocked sinks. A pre-packaged chicken sandwich was discovered with green residue during the inspection.
Significantly, Edgar’s Bakery in Huntsville had the lowest score in the Tennessee Valley at 76, with inspectors identifying deep cuts and rusty spots on pans, chicken salad held beyond its date limit, and multiple foods stored at improper temperatures. Another establishment, Garcia’s Restaurant in Crossville, also scored low at 76, with medicines and chemicals stored next to food items being a major concern.
Meanwhile, other locations such as Mike’s Valero Mini Mart and the Marathon One Stop Shop in Athens each scored 83, with violations related to food temperature issues and improper storage of cleaning supplies.
Madison County reported particularly low health inspection scores, including an alarming score of 68 for Exxon on Wall Triana, where significant issues such as ham and sausage kept at unsafe temperatures, flies in the kitchen, and moldy bologna were noted along with a lack of sanitation supplies in restrooms.
Conclusion
These inspection results serve as a pressing reminder of the importance of food safety in local dining establishments. Citizens are encouraged to be vigilant about health practices when eating out, as these violations can pose serious health risks.
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Additional Resources
- WAFF: Huntsville Hospital Bottom List This Week’s Kitchen Cops Report
- WAFF: Kitchen Cops Find Old Chicken Salad, Unapproved Eggs
- WAFF Video: Huntsville Hospital Bottom List This Week’s Kitchen Cops Report
- Wikipedia: Food Safety
- WAFF: Kitchen Cops Find Food Held Past Date Limits
