Gwinnett, Newton & Rockdale County Health Departments inspected restaurants in Metro Atlanta on March 4. Pita Mediterranean Street Food at Covington was the only restaurant that not only failed the inspection, but also temporarily had its permit suspended.
Located at 9144 Highway 278 NE in Covington, Pita Mediterranean Street Food was inspected on the afternoon of Tuesday, March 4. After uncovering several food safety violations, the inspectors gave the restaurant 53 points and the “U” grade in the inspection.
Highlights
- GNR county health department gave the “U” grade and suspended the permit of a Covington restaurant on March 4.
- Multiple violations related to hygiene, food storage, equipment maintenance, and regulatory compliance were reported at the restaurant.
- The scheduled date for the follow-up inspection will be in 10 days, and the facility must score a minimum of 70 points and score the “C” grade to avoid having to close down.
Major Food Safety Violations Revealed, Some Corrective Actions Taken
The restaurant’s permit was suspended and later reinstated after a repeat violation of the same code section occurring for three consecutive routine inspections was observed. Employees could not demonstrate verifiable proof of illness reporting awareness, marking the third consecutive violation.
Employees were also unaware of their responsibility to report illnesses, including jaundice and six reportable diseases.
At the beginning of the report, it stated that the active manager did not demonstrate knowledge of active managerial control to ensure compliance with the food code. No person in charge was present during the inspection as per the employees, marking a second consecutive violation.
Furthermore, Employees could not provide a key drop agreement for deliveries. They were not able to provide records to verify compliance with key drop deliveries either.
Serious Violations Observed at the Restaurant
An employee repeatedly entered the kitchen without washing hands while touching food contact surfaces. Another employee was found storing their drink in an open cup on the prep table and drank from it while working. The employees were educated on proper handwashing and beverage storage regulations.
Hand sinks were blocked or used for storage, marking the second consecutive violation. The Employees were educated on keeping hand sinks accessible and used solely for handwashing.
Food debris was found on equipment labeled as clean. Grease and debris had accumulated on facility equipment and on the floors and walls.
TCS food items on the prep table were above 41°F. All out-of-temperature items were discarded due to uncertainty regarding how much time it was exposed. The report also recorded that the prep table’s ambient temperature was above 71°F, which affected the TCS foods.
Grilled chicken was seen thawing in standing water in the three-compartment sink. Employees were educated on approved thawing methods, and the water was adjusted to a continuous flow below 70°F.
Onions and bottled water were seen stored directly on the floor. Employees were informed that all food shall be stored at least six inches above the floor.
Extremely soiled wiping cloths were being used for cleaning, and no clean cloths were available, the report stated. The chemical sanitizer used at the facility exceeded the maximum concentration. Instructions were given to make the solution to meet requirements, and all tables were cleaned and sanitized properly. A mop was seen stored on the floor behind the hot holding food items.
Containers without handles were being used to scoop food, and scoop handles were stored inside food, the report said. All the unapproved containers were removed.
Inspectors also noted that plastic pepperoncini containers were reused to store other food items. All such containers and food inside them were discarded as well.
Issues to Be Resolved Before the Follow Up Inspection
While many of the issues observed at the restaurant were resolved onsite, others remain to be solved. All the issues marked as “NCOS” or Not corrected on-site must be corrected before the dates mentioned in the report. The full report for the March 4 inspection at Pita Mediterranean Street Food has been released online.
A follow-up inspection will be conducted on or before March 14, 2025, and the facility must achieve at least a “C” grade to avoid closure. The report warned that if the permit is suspended more than three times within 12 months for cause, it will face permanent revocation.
Among the 40 restaurants that were inspected on March 4, 18 were able to demonstrate perfect compliance, scoring 100 points. Another 14 restaurants scored 90 and above, demonstrating excellent compliance. The 7 restaurants that scored 80 and above had good compliance status. One restaurant scored 79 points, with satisfactory compliance.
