One Polk County food vendor shut down by inspector. Among violations: No potable water
One Polk County food vendor was shut down during the week from Feb. 5 to 11 for a variety of violations, including a lack of potable water, according to state inspection reports.
The Boricuazo Wings food truck, based at 1112 Mayflower Drive in Lakeland, was shut down Feb. 8 after it received nine violations, including two high priority and seven intermediate.
Among the high-priority violations, the inspector noted the truck had no potable running water in its tank and that the person in charge said the water was supposed to be delivered. The other high-priority violation was for operating with an expired license from the Division of Hotels and Restaurants. Its license had expired on Feb. 1, 2023, according to the report.
Among the seven intermediate violations, four were for training or certification issues. For instance, the manager lacked proof of certification. The vendor failed to provide proof of state-mandated training. It provided no proof that employees were told of their responsibility to report issues with their health or food-borne illnesses, and it had no written procedures for employees to follow in a vomiting or diarrheal event, according to the report.
View for yourself: Take a look at inspections for any restaurant in Polk County
It received one violation for failing to provide a probe thermometer for cooked foods. Another violation was for having no chemical test kit for sanitizer at the three-compartment sink or warewashing machine. And the inspector noted cooked pork and chicken that wasn’t properly date marked in a refrigerator.
A 24-hour callback is customary in cases of an emergency shutdown. But as of Friday, no callback inspection was logged in state reports.
It was a light week, with only 47 inspections logged countywide, according to the reports. Among those, 46 met standards. Boricuazo Wings was the only establishment to fall short of standards. There were no violations for rodents or insects at any Polk County food vendors during the week.
Four food vendors achieved perfect initial inspections with zero violations. An initial inspection is one that was not mandated by violations found in a previous visit.
Jan. 29 to Feb. 4: 7 Polk County restaurants fall short of inspection standards. 16 pass with zero violations
Perfection
With only one Polk County restaurant failing to meet standards from Feb. 5 to 11, here’s a look at the four that achieved that elusive perfect initial inspection.
Mary's Snack Shack, mobile food vendor at 3230 State Road 60 E., Lake Wales
Tropifruits FL LLC, 34 N 6 St, Haines City
Firehouse Subs, 280 E. Van Fleet Drive, Bartow
Pio Pio Fried Chicken Express LLC, mobile food vendor, 24200 U.S. 27, Lake Wales
Jan. 22-28: One Polk County restaurant closed temporarily for roaches. 9 others warned, 10 perfect
Keep in mind as you read
Remember that in some cases, violations are noted are technical issues not directly linked to hygiene or cleanliness. Remember, too, that broken refrigerators, chipped tiles or fast work may add up to unintended mistakes.
Regardless, if you notice abuses of state standards, report them and DBPR will send inspectors. Call 850-487-1395.
The terminology
What does all that terminology in state restaurant inspections mean?
Basic violations are those considered against best practices.
A warning is issued after an inspector documents violations that must be corrected by a certain date or within a specified number of days from receipt of the inspection report.
An administrative complaint is a form of legal action taken by the division. Insufficient compliance after a warning, a pattern of repeat violations or existence of serious conditions that warrant immediate action may result in the division initiating an administrative complaint against the establishment. Says the division website: “Correcting the violations is important, but penalties may still result from violations corrected after the warning time was over.”
An emergency order — when a restaurant is closed by the inspector — is based on an immediate threat to the public. Here, the Division of Hotels and Restaurants director has determined that the establishment must stop doing business and any division license is suspended to protect health, safety or welfare of the public.
A 24-hour call-back inspection will be performed after an emergency closure or suspension of license and the establishment may reopen only after inspection shows that all high-priority violations that caused the suspension are corrected.
This article originally appeared on The Ledger: 1 Polk food vendor shut down by inspector. Among violations: No water