Restaurant Inspections: Moldy Ice Maker, Rodent-Chewed Ketchup Packs

The Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation ordered emergency closures at three Tampa Bay area eateries over the last week or so when conditions inside the establishments failed to meet guidelines for health and safety.

Roach and rodent activity were among the biggest reasons behind the closings, but food storage issues and moldy ice bins were also listed among the concerns at some of the shuttered establishments. In its Emergency Closures report dated Sept. 13, the state noted these local restaurants had been ordered shut until they cleaned up their acts:

Largo

Mama Faraones Pizza, 1280 W. Bay Drive

• Initial inspection date: Sept. 9
• High priority violations – 5
• Intermediate violations – 5
• Basic violations – 11

The inspector noted such high priority violations as an expired license and potentially hazardous food storage conditions. Crawling insects and rodents, however, raised the major red flags. The inspection report noted a “large volume of chewed up ketchup packets on top of water heater and behind water heater.” Rodent droppings were also found behind the pizza oven and near unfolded pizza boxes in a hallway, among other places. The eatery met state standards during a follow-up visit on Sept. 10.

Dunedin

Ivory Mandarin Bistro, 2192 Main St.

• Initial inspection date – Sept. 10
• High priority violations – 1
• Intermediate violations – 4
• Basic violations – 22

A long list of basic violations, including a dirty microwave combined with a few medium level violations, such as a “mold-like substance” found in the ice maker, to catch the inspector’s attention. Live roaches were also found within the establishment, the state inspection report notes. The eatery was shut down temporarily following the initial Sept. 10 inspection and remained so after a second inspection Sept. 11. Another follow-up visit on Sept. 11, however, resulted in the restaurant meeting state standards.

Zephyrhills

Pin Chasers East Pasco, 6816 Gall Blvd.

• Initial inspection date – Sept. 10
• High priority violations – 6
• Intermediate violations – 7
• Basic violations – 21

The inspector noted such major violations as a cook’s failure to wash hands, an employee touching ready-to-eat food with bare hands and improper food storage. Flying insects in the food preparation area and roach activity were also noted. About 20 live roaches were found under the grill on the cook line and 10 under the front counter off the cook line, the inspector noted. The establishment met state standards during a Sept. 11 follow-up.

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