Pulaski State Prison kitchen receives 67 in food service inspection

The inspection report cites temperature control issues, plumbing problems and sanitation concerns in the prison kitchen.

HAWKINSVILLE, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) — An inspector documented multiple food safety and sanitation violations at Pulaski State Prison during a food service inspection on Thursday, resulting in a score of 67, according to an inspection report.

The inspector cited a lack of active managerial control in the kitchen, writing in the report that steam wells on serving lines were not monitored during lunch service to ensure they were turned on or maintaining proper hot holding temperatures. The report says no corrective action was taken until staff were instructed to address the issue.

The inspection also found the facility’s only designated handwashing sink was nonfunctional at the start of the inspection, with plumbing ripped from the wall and a pipe smashed inward, according to the report. The inspector wrote that staff were unaware the sink was broken and did not designate an alternative handwashing station until instructed. A temporary handwashing station was later created using a sink on the service line, and the inspector recommended adding an additional temporary station using a water cooler with a spigot.

The inspector observed multiple employees switching between tasks, including food preparation, restroom use and mopping, without washing their hands. That issue was corrected during the inspection after staff were instructed to stop and wash their hands.

Temperature control violations were also documented. The inspector found cheese sitting at room temperature in a kitchen office and milk and bologna stored at 42 degrees Fahrenheit in a walk-in cooler. The report says the cheese was voluntarily discarded and the other items were moved to an alternate cooler. The inspector told staff that no food should be returned to the malfunctioning cooler until it is repaired and verified by the health department.

Hot holding violations were listed as repeat issues. The inspector recorded nacho meat at 65 degrees Fahrenheit and sauce at 123 degrees Fahrenheit, both below required holding temperatures. The meat was discarded and replaced, and the sauce was reheated, according to the report.

Additional repeat violations included plumbing and sewage problems. The report mentioned water leaking from a fire sprinkler system near the dishwashing area and continued sewage backing up through floor drains in the kitchen and dishwashing areas. Bubbling on the ceiling near the sprinkler line indicated a potentially larger issue, the report said, noting repairs were underway but that the work “needs to be fixed asap.”

The report also cited improper trash storage, noting food waste stored in bags on outdoor trailers without protective containers, leaving it exposed to pests and weather. The report says the issue must be corrected within two weeks by using proper trash receptacles with lids.

According to inspection records, Pulaski State Prison previously scored a 78 on a follow-up inspection on September 30, 2025, a 73 on a routine inspection on August 7, 2025 and an 83 on a routine inspection on February 11, 2025.

See all of Middle Georgia’s food service inspection scores each week in 41NBC’s Restaurant Report Card.