Koji sushi restaurant scores 54

HENRY COUNTY, Ga. — A Japanese restaurant in Henry County recently got an inspection score of 54 out of 100, but the grade went up to an "A" after a reinspection.

The Koji Japanese Steakhouse and Sushi Bar received the unsatisfactory score March 15. Channel 2's Carol Sbarge learned the restaurant's history includes an even lower score.

Customer Giannina Bettis said she eats at Koji on Bill Gardner Parkway weekly. She was stunned to learn about the low score.

"I've been inside and it was clean, so I'm surprised," Bettis said.

Some of the violations include raw meats being stored at inappropriate temperatures, sushi rice not properly marked with a date or a discard time, and potentially hazardous foods not maintained at 41 degrees or colder during storage. Inspectors also reported seeing employees using bare hands to touch ready-to-eat food, such as mushrooms and imitation crab.

In January 2012, the restaurant scored a 49, but the grade went up to an 82 within two weeks. 

On Monday, Koji's manager told Sbarge the restaurant was reinspected Friday and scored a 96.

WSBTV