Victoria's Restaurant - Food Safety Violations

Food Safety Violations - Five Critical - Two Previous Inspections Not So Good

LABELLE, FL. -- The state of Florida's Division of Hotels and Restaurants is required to do periodic spot inspections of restaurants, hotels and motels each year, and publishes the results of each inspection online. The Sunday Morning News looked at the most recent health inspection of the LaBelle's Victoria Restaurant at 67 N. Bridge Street. Pedro Enriquez of Lehigh Acres is the owner, doing business as Victoria's Restaurant.

A state food safety inspector observed the violations at a July 14, 2009 inspection and reported a follow up inspection will be required because of the number of critical safety issues found, and because two other inspections have resulted in numerous food safety problems.  Inspections on March 30, and again June 4 found 27 violations, 22 critical each time an inspection was made.

A summary of the violations found during the inspection are listed below. The department cites violations of Florida's sanitation and safety laws, which are based on the standards of U.S. Food and Drug Administration's Food Code. In general, critical violations are those that, if not corrected, are more likely to contribute directly to food contamination, illness or environmental damage.

Although the department uses the industry-standard term "critical", varying degrees of severity and potential risk to the public require inspectors to assess each situation in determining the appropriate action. In addition, while an establishment may have multiple violations, the inspectors' training and judgment formulate the overall result of the inspection to ensure the public health and safety.

While most establishments correct all violations in a timely manner (often during the inspection), the division's procedures are designed to compel compliance with all violations through follow-up visits, administration action or closure when necessary.

Violation    Observation
 -Critical. Violation: 02-22-1 Ready-to-eat, potentially hazardous food prepared on site and held more than 24 hours with not properly date marked--cooked meats reach-in cooler. Upon reinspection 7/14/2009 observed cooked rice held in plastic grocey style bag, for more than 24 hours, with no date marking in reach-in cooler in storage area
- Critical. Violation: 08A-27-1 Observed raw animal food stored over cooked food--raw shell eggs above cooked meats reach-in cooler. upon reinspection 7/14/2009 observed raw shell eggs stored above rte lunch meat in reach-in cooler in storage room
Violation: 10-08-1 Observed ice scoop with handle in contact with ice. upon reinspection 7/14/2009 observed ice scoop laying in ice machine bin with handle broken off
- Critical. Violation: 12B-07-1 Observed an open beverage container on a food preparation table or over/next to clean equipment/utensils. Corrected On Site. upon reinspection 7/14/2009 observed uncovered glass of water on kitchen prep table
- Critical. Violation: 32-16-1 Hand wash sink lacking proper hand drying provisions kitchen . Upon reinspection 7/14/2009 observed no drying provisions at kitchen hand washing sink.
- Critical. Violation: 32-17-1 Hand washing cleanser lacking at hand washing lavatory kitchen . Upon reinspection 7/14/2009 observed no hand washing cleanser at kitchen hand washing sink.
Violation: 37-18-1 Observed dusty ceiling tiles and/or air conditioning vent covers. Upon reinspection 7/14/2009 observed dust build up on a/c vent in kitchen above reach in and and surrounding wall
- Violation: 38-07-1 Lights missing the proper shield, sleeve coatings or covers in kitchen. Upon reinspection 7/14/2009 observed lights in kitchen prep area missing proper shields

The June 4 inspection found 27 violations with 22 critical:

02-22-1    Critical. Violation: 02-22-1 Ready-to-eat, potentially hazardous food prepared on site and held more than 24 hours with not properly date marked--cooked meats reach-in cooler
08A-26-1    Critical. Violation: 08A-26-1 Observed raw animal food stored over ready-to-eat food--raw beef above rte vegetables reach-in cooler
08A-27-1    Critical. Violation: 08A-27-1 Observed raw animal food stored over cooked food--raw shell eggs above cooked meats reach-in cooler.
08A-28-1    Critical. Violation: 08A-28-1 Observed food stored on floor bag of onions .
10-08-1    Violation: 10-08-1 Observed ice scoop with handle in contact with ice.
12A-13-1    Critical. Violation: 12A-13-1 Observed employee handling soiled equipment or utensils then engage in food preparation, handle clean equipment or utensils, or touch unwrapped single-service items, without washing hands went from dirty dishes to rte food bare hands did not wash hands. Corrected On Site.
12A-17-1    Critical. Violation: 12A-17-1 Observed employee improperly washing hands--in three compartment sink, no soap no hot water less tha5 seconds. Corrected On Site.
12A-19-1    Critical. Violation: 12A-19-1 Observed empolyee wash hands with no hot water. Corrected On Site.
12A-20-1    Critical. Violation: 12A-20-1 Observed employee wash hands with no soap. Corrected On Site.
12A-22-1    Critical. Violation: 12A-22-1 Observed food employee touching ready-to-eat food with their bare hands and the establishment has no approved Alternative Operating Procedure touched rte shrimp, cheese and breads. Corrected On Site.
12B-07-1    Critical. Violation: 12B-07-1 Observed an open beverage container on a food preparation table or over/next to clean equipment/utensils. Corrected On Site.
13-03-1    Violation: 13-03-1 Observed employee with no hair restraint.
14-37-1    Violation: 14-37-1 Observed cutting board grooved/pitted and no longer cleanable.
16-06-1    Critical. Violation: 16-06-1 No cleaning agent provided in first compartment of sink.
16-13-1    Critical. Violation: 16-13-1 Observed equipment and utensils not washed, rinsed and sanitized in the correct order in three-compartment sink--no rinse in second compartment. Corrected On Site.
16-16-1    Critical. Violation: 16-16-1 Observed equipment and utensils not rinsed between washing and sanitizing.
20A-09-1    Critical. Violation: 20A-09-1 Chlorine sanitizer not at proper minimum strength for manual warewashing. 0 ppm corrected to 100 ppm Corrected On Site.
22-28-1    Critical. Violation: 22-28-1 Observed interior of reach-in cooler soiled with accumulation of food residue.
32-16-1    Critical. Violation: 32-16-1 Hand wash sink lacking proper hand drying provisions kitchen .
32-17-1    Critical. Violation: 32-17-1 Handwashing cleanser lacking at handwashing lavatory kitchen .
37-18-1    Violation: 37-18-1 Observed dusty ceiling tiles and/or air conditioning vent covers.
38-07-1    Violation: 38-07-1 Lights missing the proper shield, sleeve coatings or covers in kitchen.
50-09-1    Critical. Violation: 50-09-1 Hotel and Restaurant license not properly displayed--current license not at establishment.
53A-01-2    Critical. Violation: 53A-01-2 Manager lacking proof of Food Manager Certification. This violation must be corrected by : 6/1/2009.
53A-07-1    Critical. Violation: 53A-07-1 No Certified Food Manager for establishment. This violation must be corrected by : 6/1/2009.
53A-20-2    Critical. Violation: 53A-20-2 Manager lacking proof of Food Manager Certification and no one certifed at this location. This violation must be corrected by : 6/1/2009.
53B-08-1    Critical. Violation: 53B-08-1 No proof of required employee training provided. All public food service establishments must provide the division with proof of employee training upon request, including, but not limited to, at the time of any division inspection of the establishment. Pro This violation must be corrected by : 6/1/2009.