School and food truck among 6 South MS kitchens to fail restaurant inspection
Mississippi Health Department inspectors seldom cite food trucks for critical violations, but they did in October and also cited a school kitchen and a restaurant that had bugs, rodents or animals present.
An unusually high 22 restaurants and kitchens in South Mississippi were given a C in October. That compares to eight with a failing C grade for September, 15 in August and 10 in July.
Six kitchens were cited in South Mississippi since Oct. 21. They include:
Sai Kitchen, 63 Hardy Court Shopping Center, Gulfport, had a scheduled inspection Oct. 25. It was cited for:
▪ Inadequate hand washing facilities supplied and accessible
▪ Food separated and protected (repeat)
▪ Food contact surface not cleaned and sanitized
▪ Improper cold holding temperatures
▪ Insects, rodents or animals present
A follow-up inspection on Oct. 31 showed all violations were corrected and the restaurant was given a B.
This was the restaurant’s first C dating back to 2019.
El Norteno Style Food, a mobile unit registered at 154 George Bennett Road, Lucedale, was inspected Oct. 31.
It was cited for:
▪ Hot and cold water not available at adequate pressure.
Corrected during the inspection were:
▪ Food contact surface cleaned and sanitized
▪ Improper date marking and disposition
A follow-up inspection on Nov. 6 showed the issue with water pressure was corrected during the inspection and it was given a B.
Its only other inspection, in February, was an A.
Country Gentleman, 4341 Gautier-Vancleave Rd., Gautier, was inspected Nov. 7. It was cited for:
▪ Improper cold holding temperatures
▪ Consumer advisory not provided for raw or undercooked foods
Corrected on site were:
▪ Certified manager
▪ Adequate handwashing facilities supplied and accessible
▪ Proper cooling time and temperatures
Its only other C was in 2018.
Westside Elementary, 111 Kirkwood St., Picayune, was inspected Oct. 30 for a permit. It was cited for: Wastewater not properly disposed. This is its only grade other than an A dating back to 2011.
The Oaks of Moss Point, 9116 Old Stage Rd., Moss Point, was inspected Oct. 23. The counter service was cited for: No certified manager.
Corrected on site was: Proper eating, tasting, drinking or tobacco use.
This was its second C since 2018.
The kitchen had a follow-up inspection Oct. 31. It had no critical violations and was given a B.
Cousins Food Mart, 24281 Mississippi 53, Saucier, had a scheduled inspection Oct. 23. It was cited for:
▪ Last inspection report not posted, a repeat offense.
Corrected on site were:
▪ Certified manager
▪ Food contact surface cleaned and sanitized
A follow-up inspection on Nov. 2 showed all violations corrected and the kitchen scored a B.
This was its second C since 2022.
The vast majority of restaurants inspected since Oct. 21 had no violations, with 162 kitchens scoring an A and 36 a B.
Restaurants and other food service establishments in Mississippi 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.
