Anna Maria Island pizza spot briefly closed by health dept. for roaches, rodents
Florida’s Division of Hotels and Restaurants routinely inspects restaurants, food trucks and other food service establishments for public health and cleanliness issues. The reports are public information.
During the most recent inspections in Manatee County, an Anna Maria Island pizza restaurant was temporarily shut down when live and dead roaches and signs of rodent activity were found on site.
Here is what inspectors found:
Oma’s Pizza and Italian Restaurant, 201 Gulf Dr. N., Bradenton Beach
- An inspector ordered that Oma’s Pizza and Italian Restaurant in Bradenton Beach be temporarily closed on Jan. 19 after live and dead roaches and signs of rodent activity were observed on site.
- An inspector observed approximately 10 live roaches on the floor around a slicer preparation table. The inspector observed approximately 48 dead roaches throughout various areas of the restaurant, including in food preparation and storage areas.
- An inspector observed approximately 102 rodent droppings throughout various areas of the restaurant, including 50 on the floor under a pizza oven.
- A can of pesticide was stored next to single-service cups in a front counter area. Corrective action was taken.
- Cutting boards throughout the kitchen were stained and soiled.
- A mixer head was soiled.
- A slicer blade was soiled.
- There was no test kit at hand to measure the strength of sanitizer in use for warewashing and/or wiping cloths.
- An exhaust hood was soiled.
- The interiors of all reach-in coolers in the kitchen were soiled, according to an inspector.
Hood filters, shelving under all preparation tables and all dry storage shelves in the kitchen were soiled.
Containers of onions, sugar and canned food were stored on the kitchen floor.
Floors were soiled under equipment throughout the kitchen.
A back kitchen exit door had a gap at the threshold that opened to the outside.
An employee was preparing food without a hair restraint.
There was an accumulation of black/green mold-like substance in the interior of an ice machine.
A follow-up inspection was required before the restaurant could resume operations. The restaurant met inspection standards during a follow-up visit on Jan. 20 and was allowed to reopen.
Editor’s Note: According to the Florida Department of Business & Professional Regulation, these reports are a “snapshot” of the conditions present at the time of the inspection and are public record. The agency is required to inspect every licensed restaurant at least once per year, but new and “high-risk” establishments tend to be inspected more frequently.
When an emergency shutdown order is given by an inspector, it must first be reviewed and approved by agency supervisors. In order for a business to reopen, an inspector will continue visiting the establishment daily until compliance is met. Some citations may include a financial penalty. Inspectors may also respond to complaints, which can be filed here.
The Bradenton Herald’s weekly dirty dining reports list restaurants where inspectors found issues that might concern the average diner — such as unsafe food temperatures, employee hand-washing issues or moldy drink machines — regardless of whether or not the businesses passed inspection.