Restaurant Inspections: Rodent Poop In Peppers

TALLAHASSEE, FL — The Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation ordered emergency closures at seven area eateries last week when conditions inside didn’t meet state guidelines for health and safety.

Roach activity, dirty conditions and rodent droppings were among the biggest reasons behind the temporary closings. In its Emergency Closures report for the week ending June 17, the state noted these local restaurants had been ordered shut until they cleaned up their acts:

Lakeland

Charley’s Grilled Subs, 3800 U.S. 98 N., No. 676

• Initial inspection date – June 15
• High priority violations – 2
• Intermediate violations – 2
• Basic violations – 1

The state’s inspection report noted minor concerns about lettuce left in the middle of a three-compartment sink and dirty soda dispenser nozzles. The biggest red flags, however, were raised when the inspector spotted rodent droppings and a live roach in the establishment. Dried out and moist rodent droppings were found under several food storage shelving units and on the floor near the water heater, the state’s report said. The eatery was inspected again on June 16 and met state standards.

Perry’s BBQ, 3800 U.S. 98 N., No. 668

• Initial inspection date – June 15
• High priority violations – 3
• Intermediate violations – 0
• Basic violations – 0

A live rodent standing on top of cases of cooking wine inside a dry food storage area was the first issue the state inspector noted at this establishment. Further examination of the eatery led the inspector to find more evidence of rodent activity. The inspector reported finding dry droppings on top of a container of peppers, “8-moist droppings inside container of peppers” and more moist droppings on top of those cooking wine cases. A stop sale order was consequently issued for the container of peppers with the poop inside, the report noted. The facility was inspected again on June 16 and did meet state standards.

Shanghai Joe's, 3800 U.S. 98 N., No. 688

• Initial inspection date – June 15
• High priority violations – 1
• Intermediate violations – 1
• Basic violations – 3

While an employee eating within a restricted area and a hole in the wall raised the inspector’s eyebrows, evidence of rodent activity prompted this establishment’s temporary closing. According to the state’s report, the inspector found rodent droppings in a soft drink storage cabinet, near the front counter, under a dry food storage shelf and in other locations inside the eatery. The restaurant met state standards with no violations found on June 16, state records show.

Madeira Beach

Sculley’s, 190 John’s Pass Boardwalk

• Initial inspection date – June 12
• High priority violations – 7
• Intermediate violations – 4
• Basic violations – 11

Buckets of breading stored on the floor, dead roaches and a dirty soda gun all raised red flags with the inspector. The discovery of dented and rusted cans, employees touching ready-to-eat food with their hands and potentially hazardous food storage conditions were also concerns. Live roaches were among the state inspector's biggest concerns. The inspector reported seeing “approximately 70 roaches in a wooden cabinet holding soda boxes” in the server station. More roaches were found in soap dispensers in the dish area, on walls and near the stand-up cooler. The facility was inspected again on June 13 and 14 but failed to meet state standards. It did so during an inspection on June 19, state records show.

Tampa

Nubia Restaurant, 12647 N. 56th St.

• Initial inspection date – June 12
• High priority violations – 2
• Intermediate violations – 1
• Basic violations – 6

The inspector noted dirty conditions in nonfood-contact areas, potentially hazardous food storage practices and a hole in the wall among the minor concerns. The discovery of roach droppings under shelving and live roaches, however, sounded the loudest alarm bells. The inspector noted finding live roaches on a wall, in a sink in a prep area and under a plastic knife rack. The eatery failed a return inspection on June 13 but did meet state standards later that same day, records indicate.

No. 1 China Buffet, 8857 N. Florida Ave., No. 6

• Initial inspection date – June 14
• High priority violations – 8
• Intermediate violations – 6
• Basic violations – 30

Dirty conditions, an employee’s failure to wear a hair net and potentially hazardous food storage practices were all concerns for the state’s inspector. The state’s report noted the discovery of raw animal foods being stored over those that were ready to eat and other improper food separation practices. Live roaches were also found near the cook line, next to a water heater and in the mop sink. The inspector returned twice on June 15, but the eatery remained closed. It did meet state inspection standards on June 16, records show.

Caribbean Café, 9641 Palm River Road

• Initial inspection date – June 15
• High priority violations – 6
• Intermediate violations – 3
• Basic violations – 9

The inspector noted concerns with food being stored on the floor, dirty cooler gaskets and an accumulation of grease and food debris on the walls. The discovery of dozens of live roaches, however, raised some of the biggest concerns. The inspector reported finding more than 29 live roaches under a sink, nearly 60 behind the reach-in cooler and more near the front line and in other parts of the establishment. The eatery was inspected again several times between June 15 and June 19 but had not yet met state standards, records show.

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