On May 23, 2025, the Tennessee Department of Health conducted a routine food service inspection at The Element, located at 471 N Main St Suite 2 in Jamestown, resulting in a near-failing score of 73. For reference, a failing score is anything below 70.

The inspection revealed multiple critical violations, indicating a lack of managerial control by the person in charge, who was educated on the issues and provided with training materials. Key violations included improper hand washing by employees transitioning between tasks without washing hands, a hand sink lacking paper towels, and a 3-compartment sink not set up correctly for proper dish sanitization.

Cold holding violations were noted, with salad bar items like lettuce and eggs stored at unsafe temperatures (52-57°F); these were placed on ice to reach 41°F within two hours. Other issues included improper date marking of cooked and opened foods, unprotected food storage risking contamination, poorly maintained cutting boards and pizza pans, inadequate faucet at the 3-compartment sink, and significant debris buildup in coolers, shelving, walls, and ceilings.

Corrective actions were discussed, including proper hand washing, sink setup, and cold holding procedures, with some immediate fixes like supplying paper towels and labeling foods. The establishment complied with several regulations, such as food sourcing and hot holding temperatures, but requires significant improvements in sanitation and food safety practices.

Those wanting to read the report can do so at: https://inspections.myhealthdepartment.com/tennessee/inspection/?inspectionID=262335EB-8B8E-48C9-A8A8-A1E928120501

(Food Photos by Allison B.)