Rat poop, black residue and touching food with bare hands: Madison County’s worst restaurant scores

Eight restaurants in Madison County are due for a repeat visit from a county health inspector after scoring 84 or below on their latest inspections.

Eight establishments scored 84 or below in March, the threshold that triggers a reinspection within 60 days.

Infractions ranged from rat feces to black residue in an ice machine to workers prepping ready-to-eat foods with bare hands.

Here are those eight establishments, in descending order:

Dodge’s Store # 7001

2211 Whitesburg Dr., Huntsville

Score: 84

Inspection date: March 22

The establishment was missing employee health agreements.

Chicken wings and chicken tenders were stored at inappropriate temperatures.

A meat cutter and cups were improperly stored inside a sink.

Sunrise Inc.

2212 Clinton Ave NW, Huntsville

Score: 84

Inspection date: March 19

Rat feces were found in cabinets in the kitchen and under the drink station.

Salmon was kept at an inappropriate temperature.

Barnes & Noble Bookseller, Inc.

300 The Bridge Street Suite 100, Huntsville

Score: 83

Inspection date: March 5

Milk on the counter was kept at too high a temperature.

The highest hot water temperature for the restroom hand sinks was 67 degrees.

The establishment was missing an irreversible registering temperature indicator or thermometer.

The Standard Social Market in downtown Huntsville. (Matt Wake/[email protected])

The Standard

127 Holmes Ave NW, Suit, Huntsville

Score: 81

Inspection date: March 26

Cheese grits, Conecuh sausages and shelled eggs were kept at inappropriate temperatures.

An employee touched ready to eat foods while prepping without gloves.

Hot water in several locations were not hot enough by county health department standards.

Sparkman Cornerstore

2598 Sparkman Dr. Huntsville,

Score: 80

Inspection date: March 5

The food thermometer did not have a battery.

The ice machine’s interior was dirty.

There were no paper towels or soap in the bathroom.

Popeyes

Popeyes sign (Shutterstock image)

Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen

5946 Hwy. 72 E., Gurley

Score: 80

Inspection date: March 11

Raw chicken and coleslaw were kept at inappropriate temperatures.

The hand sink in the ware washing area was blocked and there were no paper towels by the ware washing area.

Chemicals were inappropriately stored above single-use containers.

Great Harvest Bread Co.

Great Harvest Bread Co.

Great Harvest Bread Co.

933 Bob Wallace Ave SW, Huntsville

Score: 77

Inspection date: March 19

Black residue was found in the ice chute and the interior of the ice machine.

Hot water at the back hand sink was inaccessible.

There was nobody at the establishment with proof that they passed a certified food safety course and no one on site with a signed or dated employee health agreement (the inspector’s notes indicated the person in charge later provided an employee health agreement signed and dated by all workers.)

The Poppy & Parliament

The Poppy & Parliament in Huntsville. (Matt Wake/[email protected])Matt Wake

The Poppy & Parliament

117 & 119 Northside Sq., Huntsville

Score: 76

Inspection date: March 8

Black residue was found in the soda gun.

An employee was seen prepping ready to eat food with his bare hands.

There was no way to record temperature of the ware washing machine.

Fontina cheese, garden salad, onion gravy and wine sauce were kept at inappropriate temperatures.