Raw Meat In Veggie Sink: Cumming Restaurant Fails Health Inspection

CUMMING, GA — Problems, including an employee not washing hands after returning from the bathroom, led a Cumming restaurant to a failing score on its health inspection during the past week.

Nido Cafe, at 5575 Clarion Rd., scored a very low 51/U on the inspection, which happened on Friday.

According to the inspection report, an employee "returned from restroom and entered kitchen and immediately engaged in food prep without washing hands" while inspectors were there. Another employee touched a cellphone then prepared food without washing hands.

And one had a long ponytail which was loose while the worker was preparing food, the report said. Food workers' hair is supposed to be covered.

Raw chicken and beef was being stored in the sink where vegetables are prepared. Raw chicken and beef also was being stored next to cracked eggs in the walk-in cooler and raw bacon was being stored next to ready-to-eat food in the same cooler.

Dining tables in the restaurant were being sanitized using soap, there was no sanitizer found in the dishwasher, cold food was being stored at a too-high temperature and wiping cloths were being stored on top of food-preparation counters.

There was no certified food manager at the restaurant and the person in charge didn't know the required food-safety information, the report said. Also, employees were drinking out of glasses, which were sitting next to food in food-prep areas. They are supposed to use soft cups with lids and straws.

The score was a steep decline from the last time the restaurant was inspected. Nido Cafe scored a 97/A on an inspection in January and had scored an 80/B in December of last year.

According to the inspection report, the restaurant will be closed down if it doesn't score at least a 70 on a follow-up inspection, which should happen within 10 days of the original inspection.