Running roaches and a state inspector shut down part of a Broward Publix
A state inspector slapped parts of the deli department at a Coral Springs Publix with a Stop-Use Order Wednesday after he saw too many roaches crawling around the areas.
That wasn’t the only reason the Publix at 2201 N. University Dr. failed the inspection visit by Florida Department of Agriculture Inspector Tariq Islam, and it’s not unknown for a Publix store to fail inspection. But, a Stop-Use Order is the harshest action an Ag Department inspector can take.
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Unlike restaurant inspections by the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation, failed Florida Department of Agriculture inspections don’t close the supermarket, convenience store, retail bakery, food storage facility, food distributor or food processor being inspected. An inspector can put Stop-Use Orders on areas and equipment, however.
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It wasn’t the “insect control device installed on the wall over the prep reach-in cooler” in the deli department that got the Stop-Use Order, although that was a violation.
“Live roaches observed crawling on deli backroom floor, wall, under and over the three-compartment sink and inside the circuit breaker box.” And the Stop-Use Orders fell on the “entire deli backroom area, warewashing, prep sink & mechanical dishwasher.”
They’re out of action. The areas have to be cleaned and sanitized by the re-inspection. The bugs need to be eradicated or Supermarket Armageddon will come to Coral Springs.
“If evidence of pest infestation is observed on the next inspection, a Stop-Use Order will be issued on all receiving areas of the establishment, and the establishment will no longer be allowed to receive additional food items,” the inspection said, “a Stop-Use Order of all processing equipment will be issued and a Stop-Sale Order of all exposed food items will be issued until the infestation is eradicated.”
Not helping the roach problem were the gaps in the backroom fire door next to the compactor and under an emergency exit door.
The deli department had other problems. The grilled chicken pasta salad and crab salad in the salad bar were too warm, 45 and 46 degrees when they needed to be under 41 degrees for proper food safety. Nobody bothered to get a scoop with a handle to use for the feta cheese in the plastic container in a walk-in cooler. They just used a plastic cup with no handle so there’s no way to keep your hand from touching either the cheese or part of the cup that touches the cheese.
Also, the backroom, the dairy walk-in cooler fan guards and ceiling were described as “dusty.”
This story was originally published February 23, 2023 at 12:09 PM.
