Hand washing and equipment washing problems as a Coral Gables Publix fails inspection
Friday’s state inspection found a Coral Gables Publix coming up short in proper handwashing, handwashing sinks, clean equipment and food storage.
The store at 2551 LeJeune Rd. will get a re-inspection in two weeks.
Unlike restaurant inspections by the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation, a failed Florida Department of Agriculture inspection doesn’t close the establishment, but gets “re-inspection required” in two weeks. The inspector can order some parts of the place closed by Stop Use Orders and, if enough parts are closed, the business might decide it can’t operate.
Some of the problems listed in the report by Inspector Wenndy Ayrdis:
▪ In the meat department, “Old food residue encrusted on multiple pieces of equipment that were washed earlier in the day and not used.” This covers the band saws, the grinder, the slicer, the pattymaker and the tenderizer.
▪ The hot water wasn’t turned on at the handwash sink in the women’s backroom restroom, used by employees who might later be handling food.
▪ There wasn’t hot water at the handwash sink by the produce section entrance door.
▪ There weren’t enough handwash sinks for employees to use in the deli area. Publix “has 30 calendar days to install a hand sink with hot and cold running water and proper drainage in the deli department.”
▪ People working in the deli, bakery, produce and meat departments were seen “not washing hands between entering/exiting the processing areas and walk-in coolers and returning to handle food items; as well as after adjusting their face masks; and prior to donning gloves.”
▪ One of the deli blast chillers had an ambient temperature of 55 degrees, which makes it worthless for getting food down to 41 degrees, the highest temperature for safe cold storage of food. That’s why a chicken tender protein bowl, sliced Boar’s Head cheese and ham didn’t get cooled enough after four hours and were thrown out during the inspection.
▪ In the deli’s walk-in cooler, broccoli salad and cooked salmon with vegetables remained too warm. Basura.
This story was originally published February 20, 2022 at 10:03 AM.
