Promiseland Ministries in Ellijay receives a 67% on their recent health inspection

Promiseland Ministries, located at 573 Weeks Rd in Ellijay, received a score of 67 points out of a possible 100 points during their 01/13/2026 inspection by the Georgia Department of Public Health.

The violations noted by the inspector were:

Violation #1:
1-2A – pic present, demonstrates knowledge, performs duties
511-6-1.03(2)(a)-(n)(p),(q) – responsibility of pic (pf)
Points: 4
Corrected during inspection?: No
Repeat: Yes
Inspector Notes: Person in charge lacked managerial control over food safety operations and sanitation measures. A person in charge (PIC) ensures the continuous monitoring and managing all food establishment operations and is authorized to take actions to ensure that the Chapter’s objectives are fulfilled. During the day-to-day operation of a food establishment, the PIC is immediately available and knowledgeable in both operational and Chapter requirements is needed to respond to questions and concerns and to resolve problems.

Violation #2:
1-2B – certified food protection manager
Points: 4
Corrected during inspection?: No
Repeat: Yes
Inspector Notes: Certified Food Safety Manager (CFSM) not provided. Must provide CFSM at all times, and the CFSM is responsible for training the person-in-charge (PIC). This is a repeat violation. The PIC cannot be adequately trained on food safety and sanitation in the absence of a CFSM. At least one employee that has supervisory and management responsibility and the authority to direct and control food preparation and service shall be a certified food safety manager who has shown proficiency of required information through passing a test that is part of an accredited program that conforms to the national standards for organizations that certify individuals. Certified Food Safety Managers must be designated to one food service establishment only and maintain and renew certification in accordance with the requirements of the examination taken. An establishment must employ a CFSM within 60 calendar days of initial permit issuance, change of ownership permit issuance, or termination of employment of its CFSM. The CFSM is responsible for providing active managerial control for the risk factors within an establishment so it is very important to have a CFSM for each establishment within a reasonable amount of time. Instructed PIC that a CFSM must be provided immediately (less than 30 days from 1-7-26).

Violation #3:
2-2B – proper eating, tasting, drinking, or tobacco use
511-6-1.03(5)(k)1&2 – eating, drinking, or using tobacco (c)
Points: 4
Corrected during inspection?: Yes
Repeat: No
Inspector Notes: Observed ashtray with discarded cigarettes in the tray on the left side of the 3-compartment sink. Instructed PIC to discard ashtray with discarded cigarettes. Tobacco use/smoking is prohibited in the kitchen.

Violation #4:
3-1C – food in good condition, safe, and unadulterated
511-6-1.04(1) – safe, unadulterated and honestly presented (p)
Points: 9
Corrected during inspection?: No
Repeat: Yes
Inspector Notes: Observed an outside double-door upright refrigerator with substantial mold on degrading fruits and vegetables. Mold was observed on stalk onions, turnips, purple grapes, apples, eggplant, the interior walls of this unit. All fruits and vegetables in this unit were degraded to the extent of being unfit to consume. Instructed PIC to discard all contents of unit. PIC stated that this unit is not used for the facility; however, it is adjacent to the food service operation. This is a repeat violation from 1-7-26, same unit/same product.

Violation #5:
3-1C – food in good condition, safe, and unadulterated
511-6-1.04(1) – safe, unadulterated and honestly presented (p)
Points: 9
Corrected during inspection?: Yes
Repeat: Yes
Inspector Notes: Repeat from 1-7-26 inspection. Cooler with expired milk and cottage (same product from previous inspection) at ambient temperature and expiration from 12-9-25. PIC assured me that the food will be discarded in dumpster today.

Violation #6:
3-1C – food in good condition, safe, and unadulterated
511-6-1.04(1) – safe, unadulterated and honestly presented (p)
Points: 9
Corrected during inspection?: Yes
Repeat: Yes
Inspector Notes: Repeat violation with same product from 1/7/26. Expired Shell eggs observed in reach-in unit on back porch that had use by dates of 12-25-25. PIC assured me that these eggs will be discarded today.

Violation #7:
4-2B – food-contact surfaces: cleaned & sanitized
511-6-1.05(7)(b) – food contact surfaces and utensils – cleaning frequency (p, c)
Points: 4
Corrected during inspection?: No
Repeat: Yes
Inspector Notes: Inside all refrigerators (2 outside on back porch), refrigerators inside the dining hall, and refrigerator inside the back porch enclosure observed to be heavily soiled on the interior, such as the shelving, drawers, etc. Instructed PIC to deeply clean and sanitize all cold-hold units. In addition, the steam table had build-up debris on it that could potentially cross-contaminate the food that is placed on the steam table. Instructed PIC to deep clean all food contact surfaces frequently and/or after use

Violation #8:
17C – physical facilities installed, maintained, and clean
511-6-1.07(1)(a) – indoor materials (c)
Points: 1
Corrected during inspection?: No
Repeat: Yes
Inspector Notes: EXISTING FLOORS, WALLS HAVE STRUCTURE OR MAINTENANCE ISSUES. STRUCTURE DOES HAVE SERIOUS INTEGRITY ISSUES. FLOORS THAT ARE COMPOSED OF RAW WOOD MUST BE SEALED OR COVERED WITH APPROPRIATE FLOOR COVERING. BECAUSE OF THE BUILDING HAVING HABITUAL AND ONGOING STRUCTURAL INTEGRITY ISSUES, IT HAS BEEN AND IS CURRENTLY DIFFICULT TO CONTROL FOR PESTS, PROPERLY CLEAN, AND CARRYOUT REQUIRED FOOD SAFETY AND SANITATION MEASURES. MULTIPLE DISCUSSIONS, EMAILS, CORRESPONDENCES HAVE OCCURRED WITH THE FACILITY DIRECTOR EMPHASIZING THE NEED FOR A FOOD SERVICE ESTABLISHMENT BUILDING. A NEW KITCHEN PLAN WAS PROVIDED TO THIS DEPT IN 2024; HOWEVER, THERE IS NO TIME LINE ESTABLISHED FOR ITS COMPLETION. DISCUSSED FURTHER WITH PIC. WILL DISCUSS FURTHER WITH FACILITY DIRECTOR.

Violation #9:
18 – insects, rodents, and animals not present
511-6-1.07(5)(k) – controlling pests (pf, c)
Points: 3
Corrected during inspection?: No
Repeat: Yes
Inspector Notes: Evidence of gnats around/inside refrigerator unit on back porch; evidence of small rodents (observed small fecal pellets along base of interior walls inside kitchen facility) and small dead roaches in kitchen behind handsink. Discussed with PIC of pest control measures.

Additional remarks:
Discussed the need to discard any frozen food products over 3 months old in order to maintain first in first out efficiently.(Note: it was 36F outside at time of inspection). All freezer units were operational at time of inspection.

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