Restaurant Inspections: Moldy Ice Chute, ‘100-Plus’ Rodent Droppings

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

Live roaches, dirty conditions, unsafe food storage and evidence of rodents were among the biggest reasons behind the temporary closings. In its Emergency Closures report for the week ending June 18, the state noted these local restaurants had been ordered shut until they cleaned up their acts:

St. Petersburg

GA Food Service Inc., 12200 N. 32 Court St.

• Initial inspection date – June 16
• High priority violations – 3
• Intermediate violations – 5
• Basic violations – 10

The state’s report noted a number of concerns, including a hole in a wall, a dirty oven and the discovery of an unlabeled bottle containing a “toxic substance.” Dead roaches, live roaches and roach poop, however, raised some of the biggest concerns. The inspector noted finding “50-75” live roaches on a wooden pallet, about 20 under a sign on the floor, 10 in a hole in the wall and more. The catering establishment met state standards during a follow-up inspection on June 16, the state’s report noted.

Tampa

Wholly Smokes BBQ, 6803 N. Armenia Ave.

• Initial inspection date – June 15
• High priority violations – 5
• Intermediate violations – 4
• Basic violations – 17

An employee’s failure to wear a hair net while preparing food, potentially unsafe food storage conditions and holes found in several walls raised red flags. So, too, did the discovery of small flying insects in the establishment. Evidence of several rodent burrows and the presence of rodent droppings, however, caused the biggest concerns. The state inspector noted finding rodent poop behind the reach in freezer, “25 plus semi soft above dish machine,” another 50 under that dish machine and about 40 droppings near the cook line. Another “100-plus” rodent droppings were found under the ice bin, the state’s report noted. The eatery failed a return inspection on June 16, but met state standards later that same day.

Spring Hill

Sonic, 4667 Commercial Way

• Initial inspection date – June 15
• High priority violations – 3
• Intermediate violations – 2
• Basic violations - 16

Dirty conditions, flammables stored near a source of ignition and a dirty can opener blade raised red flags for the inspector, the state’s report says. A “moldy ice chute,” an expired license and the presence of live roaches were among the top concerns though. The inspector noted finding live roaches near the dish area, a few under a prep table by the fryers, one under the soft-serve machine, another stray in a box of wrappers and about 20 under a filing cabinet. The fast-food establishment failed a return inspection on June 16, but met state standards later that same day.

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