Health inspectors return during COVID-19 and cite 5 Coast restaurants for violations
With many restaurants closed during the coronavirus pandemic, some of the inspectors who check perform inspections by checking kitchens for cleanliness and health standards were instead helping with coronavirus contract tracing.
Now the Mississippi Department of Health inspectors are back in the restaurants and have issued five Cs for critical violations since the pandemic began on March 11.
Four of the Cs came in June:
Pizza Hut at 624 Courthouse Road, Gulfport, was inspected June 9 and was cited for not having food separated and protected. Corrected during the inspection was food surface cleaned and sanitized. The restaurant was inspected again June 11 and scored a B when all violations were cleared during the inspection. This was the first C for the restaurant dating back to 2011.
Dunkin Donuts at 2655 Pass Road, Biloxi, was inspected June 10 for a permit renewal and was cited for not having proper cold holding temperatures. During a follow-up inspection on June 12, the restaurant was given a B after the cold holding temperatures and food separated and protected were corrected during the inspection. This was the first C since 2018.
The Walmart Deli and Walmart Bakery at 3615 Sangani Blvd. in D’Iberville were cited June 18. Both were given Cs for not having a certified manager. They were reinspected June 22 and were given Bs after the issues with a certified manager were cleared during the inspection. The last C for the deli was in 2016 and this was the first C for the bakery dating back to 2009.
Taqueria La Juquilita at 365 Winter St. in Lucedale was inspected May 14 and given a C for not having a certified manager and not having the last inspection report posted, a repeat offense. Corrected during the inspection were improper cold holding temperatures and not having adequate handwashing facilities accessible. The inspector returned June 5 and the restaurant received a B grade after all violations were corrected during the inspection. The last C at the restaurant was in 2017.
Restaurants and other food service establishments are rated A if they pass the Health Department inspection, B if violations are corrected during the inspection, and C if the violations are critical.
