At Oriental J., 2590 Hamilton Mill Road, Buford, employees were not protecting kitchen items from being contaminated by raw chicken, according to a Gwinnett County health inspector.

During a recent routine inspection, trays of raw chicken were stacked on a cart directly above some plastic wrap. Juices from the chicken were dripping onto the wrap, the cart and the floor beneath, the inspector said.

Also, an employee was slicing raw chicken on the prep table while sauces and clean food containers were stored on a shelf below, according to the inspection report.

Oriental J. received a failing health score of 59/U. Its previous scores were 90/A and 82/B.

The restaurant was also flagged for other violations involving chicken. Points were taken off because cooked chicken had been cooling improperly for more than six hours. Because the meat was still not at a safe temperature, it was discarded.

Points were also deducted because employees were not following hand-washing procedures.

One employee touched his cell phone and the trash can, then opened a can of food with a can opener without first washing his hands. Another employee touched the trash can then scooped rice into a food container without first washing his hands.

Multiple employees were observed repeatedly washing their hands for less than 20 seconds, which is the minimum time required by the food safety code. And multiple employees were using the vegetable sink to wash up instead of the employee hand-sink.

Oriental J. will be re-inspected.

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Yemaya Lyles (right) wipes away tears during a news conference in front of the Rockdale County Public Schools administration building on Tuesday, Dec. 19, 2023. Lyles' son, Antonio, was assaulted by a paraprofessional, who has since been fired and charged with battery. Lyles says her case against the school district has dragged on since then. (Miguel Martinez/AJC 2023)

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