KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — A Cracker Barrel in Cumberland County failed its recent health inspection, forcing the disposal of 45 pounds of food after multiple violations were found.
The restaurant, located at 23 Executive Drive in Crossville, received a failing grade of 67. A score of 69 or below is considered failing. On reinspection, the restaurant corrected the issues and earned a passing grade of 92.
During the initial visit, the inspector observed a cook handling bacon with bare hands instead of wearing gloves. The dishwasher also failed to reach the required sanitizing temperature of 160 degrees, only hitting 152 degrees despite several attempts.
The inspector noted that an employee with an “unrestrained large beard” was preparing food on the cook line without a beard net, raising contamination concerns.
Temperature checks revealed raw steak, hamburger patties, catfish, and country ham stored between 49 and 56 degrees, well above the safe limit of 41 degrees. The last temperature log had been recorded the day before, and the manager could not confirm how long the food had been out of range. To prevent potential foodborne illness, 45 pounds of food were discarded.
The inspector also reported a lack of managerial control due to the number of critical violations.
In a follow-up inspection, all critical issues were corrected, and the restaurant passed with a score of 92.
Other inspection updates:
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China Wok in Athens improved from a failing 64 to a passing 88 after reinspections.
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Top scores of the week include several Knoxville eateries earning near-perfect marks: Chipotle (two locations) scored 100, Long John Silver’s 100, Papa Jim’s BBQ 100, and multiple others scoring between 98–99.
Restaurant inspections are conducted every six months without prior notice, and reports must be posted publicly inside each establishment.
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