3 Eateries Close After Live Roaches Found

The Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation ordered emergency closures at three Tampa Bay area eateries last week when conditions inside didn’t meet guidelines for health and safety.

Roach activity was one of the biggest reasons behind the forced closings. Other concerns included employee failure to wash hands, roach droppings and food storage issues.

In its Emergency Closures report for the week ending Aug. 9, the state noted these establishments had been ordered shut until they cleaned up their acts:

Bradenton

Nam Fong, 611 Cortez Plaza

• Initial inspection date – Aug. 6 (Closure occurred on Aug. 7)
• High priority violations – 5
• Intermediate violations – 1
• Basic violations – 3

The inspector noted such high priority violations as improper food storage and live roach activity. Live roaches were found in the gasket of the stand-up freezer. Roach excrement was also found. The eatery did meet inspection standards during a follow-up visit on Aug. 8.

Ruskin

South Shore Pizza, 3026 College Ave. E.

• Initial inspection date – Aug. 4
• High priority violations – 8
• Intermediate violations – 4
• Basic violations – 13

The inspector noted such high priority violations as expiration of the eatery’s license, improper food storage, employee failure to wash hands and roach activity. The inspector found four roaches by the motor of the reach-in cooler, about seven near the prep table and under the pizza box shelf. The restaurant failed to meet state standards on a follow-up visit Aug. 4, but did so on Aug. 5.

Tampa

El Mofongazo Restaurant, 5522 Hanley Road

• Initial inspection date – Aug. 5
• High priority violations – 3
• Intermediate violations – 9
• Basic violations – 8

The inspector noted such high priority violations as employee failure to wash hands, food stored at potentially hazardous temperatures and live roach activity. About 20 live roaches were found by the mop sink with more located near the hand sink and three-compartment sink. The restaurant failed to meet state standards during a repeat visit on Aug. 6, but did pass on Aug. 7.

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