A Little Caesars on Clinton Highway in north Knoxville took a public hit after a health inspector documented a filthy employee bathroom, grimy floors, and sloppy food handling. The pizza shop initially pulled a 74 on its health score, then climbed to a 94 on a follow-up visit after officials said the problems were corrected.
Inspection report details
According to the written report, the only employee restroom was in rough shape. The toilet, sink, and bathroom floor were all described as dirty. Inspectors also found to-go pizza boxes stored on the floor and food equipment with visible food debris, as reported by WATE.
The issues did not stop there. Inspectors noted staff wiping their hands on their clothing instead of washing them, and a cook was spotted chewing gum while making pizza, another no-go in the food safety playbook.
Scores and follow-up
The Clinton Highway location landed a 74 on the first visit. On the local grading scale, a 69 or below is considered failing, so the low score triggered a reinspection. During that follow-up visit, the inspector reported that the “critical violations” had been corrected and the restaurant’s score rose to a 94, according to WATE.
Why hygiene slips matter
State data and public health research point out that routine inspections and basic cleanliness checks are a frontline defense against foodborne illness. Problems like poor handwashing and dirty equipment surfaces are among the most common violations inspectors flag. In Tennessee, routine restaurant inspections typically happen about every six months, and recurring trouble spots often include inadequate hand hygiene and unclean nonfood-contact surfaces, according to a study by the CDC.
Follow-up and what to expect
Follow-up inspections are designed to confirm that immediate hazards have been fixed. In this case, the return visit documented that the cited critical issues were addressed and the score improved. Health inspection results are public records, and customers can usually find them posted at the restaurant or available through the local health department if they want to see how their favorite spots are doing behind the kitchen door.
