MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, Fla. – State inspectors were at POC Buffet and Grill in Weston based on a complaint last week and ordered the kitchen shut.
According to state records, a rodent issue, hand washing issues and food temperature issues were all discovered during the unannounced inspection.
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Roach issues were discovered at the Panda Express in Homestead and Little Caesars in southwest Miami-Dade.
Records show that the roach issue at the Little Caesars wasn't cleaned up when inspectors went back the next day for a re-inspection.
Records also show that about 100 rodent droppings were found at El Castillo de la Fruta in Hialeah.
Below is a list of places ordered shut and some of their violations. All the places listed were allowed to reopen following an ordered clean-up and re-inspection.
***POC Buffet & Grill
1651 Bonaventure Blvd.
Weston
Inspection based on complaint
Ordered shut March. 16
33 violations found
"Rodents activity present as evidenced by rodent droppings found in kitchen. More than 30 moist observed by soda boxes in prep area, 10 moist directly on top of coke soda cans, 2 moist in box with bottled water , 2 moist next to prep table in front of cook line area and 2 moist under cook line ."
"Potentially hazardous (time/temperature control for safety) food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit, brown rice 66°f on top of prep table in kitchen and flan 65°on buffet line, tofu 47°f - 54°f. Next to soup station. Operator said they have been there for less than 4 hours."
"Raw animal food stored over ready-to-eat food, raw chicken over precook end eggrolls in reach in cooler by cook line and raw fish over sauce in reach in cooler in prep area."
"Raw animal food stored over cooked food, raw tuna stored above cooked pasta in walk-in cooler."
"Raw animal food not properly separated from ready-to-eat food, raw salmon stored next to cooked beef in walk-in cooler. Operator removed cooked beef."
"Objectionable odor in dishwashing area."
"Employee washed hands with no soap, female employee by servers' station."
"Employee failed to wash hands before changing gloves and/or putting on gloves to work with food, by wok then prepared foods directly with gloved hands."
"Encrusted material on can opener blade."
"Proof of required state approved employee training not available for some employees."
"Grease accumulated on kitchen floor and/or under cooking equipment under fryers."
***Panda Express
33550 S. Dixie Highway
Homestead
Ordered shut March 17
23 violations found
"Roach activity present as evidenced by live roaches found. Observed approximately 8 live roaches by the door hinge of the reach in cooler in front of cook line."
"Potentially hazardous (time/temperature control for safety) food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. Observed cooked beef 63 ( - Cold Holding)on top of reach in cooler left from previous night as per employee working the station. Observed cooked shrimp (55°F - Cold Holding); raw chicken (47°F - Cold Holding); raw chicken (55°F - Cold Holding) inside reach in cooler in front of cook line. As per employee products were placed in the morning ,and placed inside reach in cooler. Employee transferred products to another location."
"Raw animal foods not properly separated from one another based upon minimum required cooking temperature in reach-in cooler. Observed raw chicken over raw beef inside reach in cooler by cook line."
"Stop Sale issued on potentially hazardous (time/temperature control for safety) food due to temperature abuse. Observed cooked beef at 63 °f sitting on top of reach in cooler from previous night as per employee working the station."
"Proof of required state approved employee training not available for some employees."
"Ice scoop handle in contact with ice. Employee corrected placement of ice scoop."
"Hood soiled with accumulated grease, dust or food debris."
Panda Express released a statement to Local 10 News about the incident, which said: "The health and safety of our guests is always out top priority. We are working to resolve this issue."
***Little Caesars
20121 SW 127th Ave.
Miami
Ordered shut March 13
6 violations found
Wasn't allowed to reopen March 14 during re-inspection
"Roach activity present as evidenced by approximately 4-5- live roaches found in the kitchen underneath the three compartment sink on the floor."
"Live, small flying insects in kitchen, food preparation area, or food storage area. Observed approximately 10 live flies on the wall and shelf in the dish ware and mop sink areas."
"From inspection on 2017-03-13: High Priority - Roach activity present as evidenced by approximately 4-5- live roaches found in the kitchen underneath the three compartment sink on the floor - From follow-up inspection on 2017-03-14: Observed approximately 9 live roaches in the kitchen underneath the three compartment sink, on the floor, behind the loosened base board and inside the corner gasket of the reach in cooler pizza make table."
"From inspection on 2017-03-13: High Priority - Live, small flying insects in kitchen, food preparation area, or food storage area. Observed approximately 10 live flies on the wall and shelf in the dish ware and mop sink areas. - From follow-up inspection on 2017-03-14: Observed approximately 6 live flies on the wall in the kitchen."
***El Castillo de la Fruta
1004 E. 16th St.
Hialeah
Ordered shut March 16
13 violations found
"Rodent activity present as evidenced by approximately 100 dried rodent droppings found in back storage area and approximately 8 moist rodent droppings found on food preparation table in kitchen area."
"Pesticide-emitting strip present in food prep area."
"Hole in wall. Different areas."
"Employee failed to wash hands before changing gloves and/or putting on gloves to work with food. Observed employee doing different tasks, then come back to the kitchen put gloves on without washing hands and engaged in food preparation."