Insects, Dirty Kitchens In Local Eateries: July Health Scores

JEFFERSON COUNTY, AL — The Jefferson County Department of Health inspected 130 restaurants in the area in July, and while the vast majority of those eateries passed their inspections with flying colors, a handful of them did not.

Seven local restaurants received a score of 85 or below in their July health inspections. This was mostly due to failure to properly train employees on food safety and health procedures, which was the case for a Pizza Hut in Fairfield, a Waffle House in Bessemer and Mellow Mushroom in 5 Points South.

Other issues included flies in the food prep area, like at the Papa John's in Fairfield, and failure to store foods at the proper temperature, which was the case for Bogue's in Forest Park.

Here are the eateries in Jefferson County that received a score of 85 or below:

Pizza Hut; 2321 John Hawkins Parkway, Hoover (74): Points were deducted for failure to provide food safety training and health policies for employees; failure to post current permit in public view; condensation on several containers of raw dough; container of ham stored in the top of the make table cooler was improper temperature; cases of breadsticks were stored on the floor in the WI freezer; non-food contact surfaces throughout the facility are soiled; heavy accumulation of food debris inside of the dish machine; condensate leak in the RI cooler; heavy accumulation of debris on most of the surfaces throughout the facility.

Waffle House; 5010 Academy Lane, Bessemer (75): Points were deducted for failure to provide food safety training for all food handlers as required; failure to post current inspection report in a conspicuous place; box of discolored beef patties stored in RI cooler next to grill; tray of raw shell eggs with internal temperature of 75 degrees stored above grill station with no documentation of time as control; box of raw shell eggs with internal temperature of 52 degrees stored on top of sink unattended; juice dispenser with heavy slime mold buildup and black slime in fountain drink ice bin; heavy grease film hanging from gaskets and inside of bottom pullout drawers, under grill and in crevices of grill station; debris on floor under dish machine and trash throughout prep station; dirty air ducts.

Bogues Restaurant; 3120 Clairmont Avenue, Birmingham (79): Points were deducted for failure to post current inspection report in a conspicuous place; several jugs of milk stored in retail display cooler next to drink station above 41 degrees; failure to provide disclaimer and reminder by denoting asterisk on menu which food items are raw or undercooked; containers stored with dry goods were unlabeled; failure to properly store scoops; failure to provide food grade containers for storing all foods; heavy grease buildup on the exterior surface of cooking equipment; interior of the maketable top encrusted with food residue; leaking drain pipe for handsink in warewash room; ceiling tiles and walls are yellow throughout kitchen area; accumulation of dust on wall vent covers throughout kitchen area and in the restrooms.

Papa John's; 6501 Aaron Aronov Drive, Fairfield (82): Points were deducted for failure to store cold foods at proper temperature; trays of pizza dough stored uncovered under dusty fan cover in WI cooler; heavy residue buildup on can opener; dusty fan covers in WI cooler; debris on canned good rack; hot water at three compartment sink will not turn off; flies in food establishment; missing ceiling tiles.

Mellow Mushroom; 1200 20th Street South, Birmingham (83): Points were deducted for failure to provide proper safety training for employees; failure to maintain cold foods at proper temperature; failure to store utensils in clean area; storage cooler doors do not seal tightly; sanitizer for the wiping cloths was not set up.

Cheesecake Factory; 236 Summit Boulevard, Birmingham (85): Points were deducted for failure to store employee food and drinks away from food prep areas; failure to maintain cold foods at proper storage temperature; interior of ice machine heavily soiled; failure to provide effective insect and rodent control to eliminate their presence on the premises (for drain flies and flies) in bakery and in dry storage room.

Dyron's; 121 Oak Street, Mountain Brook (85): Points were deducted for cold foods not stored at proper temperature; interior of ice machine shield is soiled; handsinks in the bar, restrooms and kitchen closest to the stove hot water only reached 92 degrees; unclean walls and ceiling throughout facility.