Multiple foodborne illness risk factors were out of compliance during a recent health inspection at Choo Choo Express, a hibachi-style Japanese-Korean grill in Duluth.
The inspector said that employees were putting hands in pockets, touching trash cans, touching dirty dishes, touching employee items, leaving the kitchen and then prepping without first washing hands.
None of the employee hand sinks had paper towels. Instead, one sink held a sanitizer bucket and another had a knife sharpener inside.
Choo Choo Express, 3492 Satellite Blvd., failed the Dec. 6 routine inspection with a 63/U.
Among other violations, coolers and freezers held raw meats and unwashed vegetables stored over prepared foods. After cleaning, several spoons, bowls, slicers and other dishes were still with food debris.
Employee items were throughout the kitchen, with drinks on the prep tables and aprons and phone chargers on top of onions. Not having a designated area for employee activity is a third repeat violation for the restaurant.
Choo Choo Express will have a follow-up inspection in ten days. Its previous score was 95/A, earned in March of 2020.
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