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Inspection: Employees at Mexican restaurant failed to wash hands when preparing food

DALLAS, Ga. — A Dallas restaurant took quick action after getting a failing restaurant inspection score late last week.
 
La Cocina Mexican restaurant in Paulding County had a couple employees with hand-washing issues.
 
Channel 2's Carol Sbarge went to talk to the district manager about the problems and he told her the quick action he took.
 
La Cocina Mexican restaurant is a popular place on Nathan Dean Boulevard. The restaurant that got a 95 in October had a major drop on March 13, to a 42.
 
The inspector noted seeing two employees use the restroom and not wash their hands, then one went in to start preparing food and the other started doing dishes.
 
"All the employees that've been caught, which is two, they've been fired already," District Manager Armando Ezqueda said.  
 
Other violations include potentially hazardous food held at higher than 41 degrees Fahrenheit, observed dented/rusted cans and raw animal food not properly separated from ready-to-eat food.
 
"We (are) going to make sure that every day we supervise everybody so they follow the right procedures," Ezqueda said.
 
Ezqueda said he's told managers that at least twice a day they should show employees the proper way to wash their hands.
 
Ezqueda said they've been open seven years and have a good record. He said a few employees let the restaurant down but the remaining workers are being watched.
 
"We're going to make sure that every day we supervise everybody so they follow the right procedures," Ezqueda said.
 
La Cocina Mexican has a second restaurant in Cobb County, but that one was not part of this inspection.

We'll let you know the score when the Paulding County one is re-inspected.