Restaurants are often known for their health code violations in the kitchen, but conditions behind the scenes at grocery stores often go more unnoticed. On Dec. 13, a Florida grocery store shut down its food processing areas after a jaw-dropping health inspection report.
According to The Miami Herald, Florida Department of Agriculture inspector Leni Zunino issued stop use orders at Shop-N-Save store in Fort Lauderdale after discovering a litany of concerning food safety violations. Among them included using the urinal as a service sink, prepping food next to a bathroom door, letting wastewater drain outdoors, and "soil buildup and mold-like substance in the peanut boiler and on tongs used to grab patties."
The latest stop use orders are in addition to an ongoing one issued years ago. The location hasn't been able to use its walk-in cooler since an inspection in April 2021 found it to be too warm to keep food at or under 41 degrees. The store will also have to stop using its air fryer, food warmer, hot box, ice scoops, and food tongs.
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On top of being ordered to stop using parts of the store, the Florida Department of Agriculture also issued stop sales orders for a number of products as there wasn't any hot water at a number of sinks in the food processing area. As a result, boiled eggs and jars of pickled sausages and eggs must be taken off shelves.
It might not hurt to see if any grocery stores in your area have received similar worrisome inspections.