49 violations found inside South Florida supermarket, ‘stop use’ ordered

HOMESTEAD, Fla. – An inspector was at the Presidente Supermarket in Homestead last week and issued 49 violations and citations.

According to state records, a “stop use” was issued in the backroom and the supermarket was ordered to stop receiving merchandise due to a roach infestation.

Meanwhile, the Little Caesar’s in Hallandale Beach was ordered shut after flies were discovered landing on a dough mixer and pizza trays, yet China Buffet in Miami was not ordered shut despite the fact that an inspector saw a fly landing on raw pork.

Below is a list of places and some of their violations.

The Little Caesar’s was allowed to re-open following an ordered cleanup and re-inspection.

The Presidente has to be re-inspected before the “stop use” order is lifted.

***PRESIDENTE SUPERMARKET

240 NE 8TH STREET

HOMESTEAD

INSPECTION DATE 11/4/22

49 VIOLATIONS FOUND

“Live roaches of varying sizes found crawling up the wall around the mop sink area in the backroom. See supplement, a stop use order is in effect for the backroom. No merchandise can be received through the back receiving area and no new merchandise may be stored/added to the backroom until released by an inspector.”

“Deli-Old food residue encrusted on the slicer blade and guard of all 3 deli slicers. COS, Equipment was washed, rinsed, and sanitized. Seafood- Old yellow dry food residue encrusted on blades of tenderizer stored near the seafood display case. COS, equipment was washes, rinsed, and sanitized. Meat Processing- Green and black mold-like grime encrusted on white cutting board table tops located near the band saw. COS, equipment was washed, rinsed, and sanitized. Kitchen- Old food residue encrusted on the can opener blade located at the cook’s preparation table.”

“Food employees washed various utensils (spoons, knives) at the ware wash sinks without sanitizing. COS, Washed utensils were sanitized and air dried prior to use. Kitchen- Sanitizer measured 0ppm at the ware wash sink where pots and pans had been washed. COS, sanitizer with proper concentration was prepared at the ware wash sink and all pots/pans were sanitized.”

“Deli- Yellow mold-like grime encrusted on the ice making portion and interior housing of the ice machine installed near the coffee machine. COS, ice machine was washed, rinsed, and sanitized. Seafood- Black mold-like grime encrusted on the ice making portion, ice flap, and interior housing of the ice machine used to fill the seafood display case.”

“Deli- Multiple food items cut this morning and placed directly into the salad display unit did not achieve 41*F after more than 4 hours: Caesar salad 70*; sliced tomatoes 71*F; canned green beans and carrots 70*F. COS, food items were voluntarily discarded by management during the inspection. Retail- Multiple cheeses sliced this morning and placed directly at customer reach in the retail cheese display unit prior to the products achieving 41*F: yellow cheese 53*F; Gouda 44.9*F; paisa white 50*F. COS, food items were placed under proper refrigeration until they achieved 41*F. Retail- Multiple meat products were cut and packaged in the morning and placed directly at customer reach in the retail meat cold unit prior to achieving 41*F: ground beef 42.2*F; beef bottom round 42*F; thin whole round 42.6*F; T-bone 42*F; porterhouse 43*F; pork chops 41.5*F; pork ribs 44*F. COS, all food items were placed under proper refrigeration until they achieved 41*F. Deli- Containers housing milk-based soursop smoothie and mamey smoothie placed on the counter next to the register measured 64*F and 53.6*F. COS, food items were placed under proper refrigeration to cool to 41*F.”

“Deli- Package of El Toro sweet ham opened and placed in the deli display cold unit on 10/19/22, was found on 11/04/22 exceeding the 7-day limit. COS, ham was voluntarily discarded by person in charge during inspection. Deli- Multiple packages of open deli meat placed in the display cold unit were found with no date mark and employees did not know when they were opened. COS, all products were voluntarily discarded by person in charge during the inspection.”

“Food Service, Deli, Kitchen, Bakery, Produce, Meat, Seafood, Meat Processing- Multiple employees wearing single-use gloves were observed touching their face/mask, leaving and returning to the processing areas to handle food items, handling money at the register, and between tasks without changing their gloves after they have become contaminated.”

“Kitchen- No hand sink available in the processing area for employees to wash their hands before handling food items and utensils. Food establishment has 30 calendar days to install a hand sink with hot and cold running water and proper drainage in the kitchen processing area. Failure to comply will result in placing this area, all food related equipment, and open food processing on a stop use order until compliance is achieved.”

***LITTLE CAESAR’S PIZZA

924 WEST HALLANDALE BEACH BLVD.

HALLANDALE BEACH

ORDERED SHUT 10/31/22

7 VIOLATIONS FOUND

“Live, small flying insects in kitchen, food preparation area, food storage area and/or bar area. 1) 10 small flying insects inside dough mixer and 10 small flying insects on pizza dirty trays in secondary prep area across from Walk in cooler away from the kitchen 2) 20 flying insects on pizza trays in secondary prep area next to hand washing sink away from kitchen. 3) 5 flying insects in storage area across from triple sink landing on clean trays away from kitchen.”

“Employee touched soiled surface and then engaged in food preparation, handled clean equipment or utensils, or touched unwrapped single-service items without washing hands. Employee after handling cash payment proceeded to make a pizza without changing gloves nor washing hands. Reviewed proper hand washing procedures. Employee removed gloves and washed hands correct.”

***CHINA BUFFET

1032 SW 67TH AVENUE

MIAMI

FOLLOW UP INSPECTION REQUIRED (DEPARTMENT DISCRETION)

15 VIOLATIONS FOUND

“Stop Sale issued due to food not being in a wholesome, sound condition. Kitchen: a live fly land on raw pork inside an uncovered container.”

“Live, small flying insects in kitchen, food preparation area, food storage area and/or bar area. Kitchen: observed a live fly land on raw pork inside an uncovered container and 2 live flies flying by the cook line and 3 live flies resting on a container with Saran wrap inside. Repeat Violation.”

“Fly sticky tape hanging over food/food preparation area/food-contact equipment. Observed in the kitchen, sticky glue tape with dead insects stored nearby at prep table in front of the walk in cooler above cases of raw chicken. Observed operator move the raw chicken to the prep table and an employee removed the fly sticky glue tape and discarded.”

“Accumulation of dead or trapped birds, insects, rodents, or other pests, in control devices. Observed in the kitchen nearby a prep table: sticky glue fly traps with dead flies and other insects. Observed operator remove and discard the sticky glue fly trap during the inspection.”

“Food stored on floor. Observed in the kitchen: container with raw pork, cases of raw chicken, a container with cooked noodles, and cases of broccoli stored on the floor. Discussed proper method with the operator. Hallway by the back door: bag of onions and a bag of carrots stored on the floor.”

“Hand wash sink not accessible for employee use at all times.”

“No currently certified food service manager on duty with four or more employees engaged in food preparation/handling.”

“Required employee training expired for some employees.”


About the Author:

Jeff Weinsier joined Local 10 News in September 1994. He is currently an investigative reporter for Local 10. He is also responsible for the very popular Dirty Dining segments.