Martin’s (West Ave) in Cartersville receives a 62% on their recent health inspection

Martin’s (West Ave), located at 1214 W Ave AVE in Cartersville, received a score of 62 points out of a possible 100 points during their 10/27/2025 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: No
Inspector Notes: Observed PIC lacking knowledge of foodborne illness risk factors. CA: PIC knowledge can be demonstrated by having no violations of Priority Items during routine inspections. CA: Employees need to be trained/re-trained.

Violation #2:
1-2B – certified food protection manager
511-6-1-.03(3)(d) – certified food safety manager responsibility
Points: 4
Corrected during inspection?: No
Repeat: No
Inspector Notes: Observed certified food safety manager not fulfilling duties; unable to assess training needs of employees. CA: The responsibility of the CFSM shall include the safety of food preparation and service by ensuring that all employees who handle, or have responsibility for handling, unpackaged foods of any kind, have sufficient knowledge of safe preparation and service of the food. The nature and extent of the knowledge that each employee is required to have may be tailored, as appropriate, to the employee’s duties related to food safety issues. COS: Re-train CFSM. Health dept training offered.

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: Yes
Inspector Notes: Observed employee personal stored on a prep table in the kitchen in a reusable tumbler. CA: Employee personal drinks must be in a single service beverage cup with a secure lid and straw that is handled to prevent contamination. COS: PIC moved the cup to the office.

Violation #4:
4-1A – food separated and protected
511-6-1.04(4)(c)1(i)(ii)(iii)(v)(vi)(vii)(viii) – packaged & unpackaged food separation, packaging, and segregation (p, c)
Points: 9
Corrected during inspection?: Yes
Repeat: No
Inspector Notes: Observed raw beef stored above raw pork tenderloin in the walk-in cooler. CA: Food shall be protected from cross-contamination by separating raw animal foods during storage, preparation, and holding from ready-to-eat foods. COS: PIC re-organized raw meats based on minimum internal cook temp.

Violation #5:
4-2B – food-contact surfaces: cleaned & sanitized
511-6-1.05(7)(a)1 – equipment, food-contact surfaces,& utensils (pf)
Points: 4
Corrected during inspection?: No
Repeat: Yes
Inspector Notes: Observed interior of bulk ice machine and ice machine at the soda fountain with black build up in them. CA: Food contact surfaces shall be cleaned frequently enough that they are maintained clean to sight and touch. COS: PIC will drain ice machines and properly clean/sanitize. Moving forward, frequency of routine cleaning will be increased.

Violation #6:
4-2B – food-contact surfaces: cleaned & sanitized
511-6-1.05(6)(n) – manual and mechanical warewashing equipment, chemical sanitization-temperature, ph, concentration, hardness (p,pf)
Points: 4
Corrected during inspection?: Yes
Repeat: No
Inspector Notes: Observed 0ppm of chlorine sanitizer in the sanitizer bucket on the prep line. CA: Sanitizer shall be made based on the manufacturers instructions. Bleach 50-100ppm. COS: PIC remade sanitizer bucket.

Violation #7:
6-1A – proper cold holding temperatures
511-6-1.04(6)(f) – time/temperature control for safety; cold holding (p)
Points: 9
Corrected during inspection?: Yes
Repeat: No
Inspector Notes: Observed improper cold holding of potentially hazardous TCS foods (milk/eqq mixture, sliced cheese). CA: Cold held TCS foods shall maintain an internal temperature of at least 41F or below. CA: PIC discarded milk/egg mix. Sliced cheese was out of temp for less than 4 hours and was moved to the walk-in cooler to rapidly cool. Discussed proper ice bath set up and maintenance.

Violation #8:
15C – nonfood-contact surfaces clean
511-6-1.05(7)(a)2,3 – equipment, food/nonfood-contact surfaces, and utensils, food-contact surfaces of cooking equipment & nonfood-contact surfaces free of accumulations (c)
Points: 1
Corrected during inspection?: No
Repeat: Yes
Inspector Notes: Observed excessive buildup of grease and food debris on sides, insides and tops of cooking equipment such as fryers, oven, prep tables. CA: Non-food contact surfaces shall be maintained and kept clean. COS: PIC will assign equipment to be cleaned and moving forward will increase the frequency of routine cleaning.

Violation #9:
17C – physical facilities installed, maintained, and clean
511-6-1.07(5)(a),(b) – good repair, physical facilities maintained; cleaning, frequency & restrictions, cleaned often enough to keep them clean (c)
Points: 1
Corrected during inspection?: No
Repeat: Yes
Inspector Notes: Observed build up of soil, grease, dust and food debris on the floors, coving, ceiling and vents throughout the facility. Observed leak in ceiling in food prep area. CA: Physical facilities shall be maintained and kept in good repair. COS: Facility needs to be deep cleaning and moving forward increase the frequency of routine cleaning.

Additional remarks:
Discussed with PIC:
Keep food covered, 4 hour time for chicken breading station, posting inspection report at both windows (drive thru and walk-up), allergen statement, personal foods from home cannot be cooked using facility equipment.

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