Handling of ready-to-eat food among violations at Lenoir City restaurant
 
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WATE) — A restaurant in Lenoir City has the lowest health inspection grade this week.
Casa Fiesta, 455 Highway 321, Lenoir City — grade: 73; follow-up grade: 92
 
The initial grade was 73 at Casa Fiesta. That’s a passing score. A score below 70 is considered failing.
 
While in the kitchen the inspector watched a worker touch ready-to-eat tortillas with bare hands. You can’t do that in restaurants. Gloves are required to be worn when a kitchen worker handles food.
 
Other violations include:
 
  • A container of sliced tomatoes were stored on the floor of the walk-in cooler. Food is supposed to be kept on shelves to protect from possible contamination.
     
  • The temperature of tamales on the steam table was 137 degrees. The proper hot temperature is 165 and above to prevent possible food-borne illness.
     
  • A dirty wiping cloth used to clean tables was found on a food preparation counter.
     
  • The manager did not demonstrate proper managerial control.
     
The health inspector has gone back to Casa Fiesta and checked the critical violations. The second inspection grade is a 92.

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3/15/21