Hamilton County, TN, September 17, 2025

News Summary

Recent health inspections in Hamilton County reveal varied scores for schools and food establishments as the academic year begins. While several schools achieved high marks, some local food services fell below health standards, raising concerns. Notable schools like Ooltewah High School and Harrison Elementary School received perfect scores. In contrast, Crust Pizza and Conga Kitchen reported alarming violations, prompting local health officials to encourage community reporting of health concerns for public safety.

Health Inspection Scores in Hamilton County Schools Reveal Variability as Academic Year Begins

Hamilton County, TN – Recent health inspections conducted on schools and food service establishments in Hamilton County have revealed varied scores, highlighting both areas of excellence and concerning health violations. The latest inspection reports reflecting scores from the week ending August 27 show that while many local schools received high marks, some food service establishments fell below the health standards.

High Achievers Among Schools

In stark contrast to local food service establishments, Hamilton County schools scored commendably in health inspections. Notably, several schools achieved perfect scores of 100, including Ooltewah High School, Harrison Elementary School, and Allen Elementary School. Other schools with high scores include:

• Clifton Hills Elementary School: 88
• Chattanooga School for the Liberal Arts: 90
• Apison Elementary School: 95

Concerns in Local Food Establishments

On the other hand, several local food establishments received alarming scores, indicating multiple health violations. Crust Pizza located on Broad Street earned a low score of 67 after inspectors discovered:

• Dirty pizza ovens and food debris buildup.
• Unprotected food items.
• Insufficient sterilizer levels.
• Food in the walk-in cooler not held at required temperatures.
• No hand soap at the handwashing station.

Another establishment, Conga Kitchen on E. Main Street, received a score of 79, with violations that included improper thawing of raw beef and unclean kitchen areas. The food inspection score breakdown for Conga Kitchen indicates:

• Cooked ground beef not maintained at the required temperature.
• Raw fish stored improperly.
• Unlabeled ready-to-eat foods stored for over 24 hours.
• Dirty utensils found in the handwashing sink.

Additional Troubling Scores

Sushi City on Lee Highway reported a troubling score of 70, attributed to the presence of pests and cleanliness issues such as:

• Flies and cockroaches noted during inspections.
• Uncovered leftover food items.
• Grime buildup on kitchen surfaces.

Frequency of Inspections

Local health departments in Hamilton County, Catoosa County, and Walker County conduct biannual inspections of food service establishments. Facilities scoring below an acceptable threshold are subject to re-inspection to ensure compliance with health regulations. This week, a total of 69 restaurants across the Tennessee Valley achieved perfect inspection scores of 100.

Community Engagement

As the weather in Hamilton County remains warm, with temperatures in the high-80s, local health officials encourage community members to report any health-related concerns directly to their health departments to ensure public safety.

Conclusion

The contrasting health inspection results prompt an important conversation about food safety standards in the community while highlighting the successful efforts of Hamilton County schools to maintain high health standards as the academic year resumes.

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Additional Resources

• Local 3 News: Pizza Place Fails Inspection
• Wikipedia: Food Safety
• Times Free Press: Fruit Flies and Adulterated Cans
• Google Search: Hamilton County health inspections
• Local 3 News: Inspector Finds Flies and Cockroaches
• Google Scholar: Health Inspection Food Establishments
• Times Free Press: Unprotected Foods and Improper Temperatures
• Encyclopedia Britannica: Food Safety
• Local 3 News: TN Valley Schools Excel in Health Inspections
• Google News: Chattanooga restaurant health inspections

Author: STAFF HERE CHATTANOOGA WRITER

The CHATTANOOGA STAFF WRITER represents the experienced team at HEREChattanooga.com, your go-to source for actionable local news and information in Chattanooga, Hamilton County, and beyond. Specializing in "news you can use," we cover essential topics like product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and state news affecting the area—with deep expertise drawn from years of dedicated reporting and strong community input, including local press releases and business updates. We deliver top reporting on high-value events such as Riverbend Festival, Chattanooga Oktoberfest, and Moon River Festival. Our coverage extends to key organizations like the Chattanooga Area Chamber of Commerce and United Way of Greater Chattanooga, plus leading businesses in manufacturing, insurance, and utilities that power the local economy such as Volkswagen Chattanooga, BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee, and EPB. As part of the broader HERE network, including HEREBristol.com, HEREKnoxville.com, HEREMemphis.com, and HERENashville.com, we provide comprehensive, credible insights into Tennessee's dynamic landscape.