NORTH FORSYTH – An assisted living and memory care facility in north Forsyth failed a health inspection for the second time in less than six months for having moldy fruit and employees eating out of a pan of food with their hands.

Gracemont Assisted Living-Memory Care, located at 4940 Jot Em Down Road, received a 36 on its Jan. 23 inspection report from the Forsyth County Environmental Health Department for violations that included a “mold-like substance” in containers of oranges.

A 69 or less is considered failing, and restaurants that fail an inspection are revisited within 10 days.

Kara Marinko, executive director of the senior living facility, said they are working “cooperatively with the health department to swiftly correct the concerns, and we remain steadfast in our commitment to ensuring the maximum level of care for our residents.”

Gracemont won Best Assisted Living Community in this year’s Best Of Forsyth, an annual readers choice contest put on by the Forsyth County News.

“At Gracemont Assisted Living, the health and care of our residents is our highest priority,” Marinko said.

The facility was also cited for: the person in charge not performing duties during the inspection; employees touching dirty dishes then putting on gloves to prepare dessert without washing hands; several employees eating their lunch in prep areas; employees eating chicken out of the pan on the steam table with their fingers; raw meat being stored above, beside or on top of ready-to-eat food including ice cream, cookies and mushrooms; and dishes and food slicers having evidence of food debris accumulation.

Other citations included: food being stored at improper temperatures; first aid kits and alcohol test strips being located next to piping bags; and plastic bottles being cut and used as a funnel.

A follow-up inspection is scheduled for Feb. 6.

Their previous score was an 81, which was reported on Oct. 3, 2016. Before that, the facility received a failing score of 63 for some of the same violations.

Other previous scores include a 94 on Sept. 1, 2015 and an 85 on March 3, 2015.

Gracemont Assisted Living, located 4960 Jot Em Down Road, has received B scores in the 80s from 2014 to Sept. 2016.