Dirty dining: Raw sewage was backing up at this Bradenton restaurant, inspectors say

During the most recent inspections of Manatee County, an inspector observed raw sewage backing up around a KFC/Long John Silver’s location in Bradenton.

Another area restaurant had live flying insects in a food preparation area.

Here is what inspectors found.

KFC/Long John Silver’s, 6440 State Road 64 East, Bradenton

• An inspector observed raw sewage on the ground outside of the establishment. Raw sewage was coming out at a private lift station that connected the restaurant’s pipes to Manatee County sewer pipes, according to the inspector. The sewage was observed outside the front of the building, and it was spreading across a walkway along State Road 64 East and into ditches in the surrounding area.
• Sewage had also breached a manhole cover at the back of the restaurant, according to an inspector. The breach occurred in an area traveled by cars exiting the parking lot and entering the drive-thru line.
• A Southern Sanitary (Systems) employee said that a breaker at the lift station was overheating and shutting down, according to the inspector’s report.
• There was an encrusted material on a can opener blade.
• A ventilation hood and floors under the hood were soiled with accumulated grease, dust and/or food debris.
• There was food in floor tile grout throughout the kitchen area.
• A dumpster was overflowing with garbage.
• A follow-up inspection was required. The restaurant met inspection standards during a follow-up visit the next day.

Restaurant Edelweiss, 611 Manatee Ave. E., Bradenton

• An inspector observed approximately 15 flying insects throughout the establishment, including on the cook line. The insects were on walls, in trash cans and flying around, the inspector said.
• Heavy cream, cooked sausage and cooked pork were cold held at temperatures greater than 41 degrees in a reach-in cooler. The foods were moved to a walk-in cooler for rapid cooling.
• A reach-in cooler by the cook line was soiled with an accumulation of food residue.
• A follow-up inspection was required. The restaurant met inspection standards during the follow-up visit.

Truman’s Tap & Grill, 11161 State Road 70 E. #100, Lakewood Ranch

• Dishmachine sanitizer was not at the proper minimum strength.

• An employee who was preparing food changed gloves without washing hands. An inspector educated the restaurant operator on proper handwash procedure.

• Sour cream, salsa, chicken wings, guacamole, and butter hot sauce were cold held at temperatures greater than 41 degrees. A stop sale was issued for all of the foods.

• An employee reentered the kitchen from an outside walk-in cooler and began engaging in food preparation without changing gloves, according to an inspector.

• There was an encrusted material on a can opener blade.

• A metal strainer was stored in an employee handwash sink. It was removed.

• No currently certified food service manager was on duty while four or more employees were engaged in food preparation/handling.

• There was no probe thermometer at hand to measure the temperature of food products.

• There was no test kit at hand for measuring the strength of sanitizer in use for warewashing.

• Proof of required training was not available for some employees.

• Foods that had been prepared on site and held in reach-in coolers for future use were not date-marked.

• A walk-in cooler fan was soiled.

• An employee was engaged in food preparation without a proper hair restraint. The restaurant operator provided the employee with a hair net.

• An employee was observed eating in a server area.

• An employee drink was stored on a food preparation table. It was removed.

• A follow-up inspection was required. The restaurant met inspection standards during the follow-up visit.

Crager’s Restaurant, 7218 N. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota

• An employee who was preparing food changed gloves without washing hands, according to an inspector. An inspector educated the restaurant operator on proper handwash procedure.
• There was an accumulation of encrusted food debris on/around a mixer head.
  
  
• Multiple cutting boards were soiled.
• There was an encrusted material on a can opener blade.
• Brushes were stored in an employee handwash sink. Corrective action was taken.
• No soap was provided at an employee handwash sink in the kitchen. Corrective action was taken.
• Food that was prepared on site and held for future use was not date-marked. A spray bottle containing a toxic substance was not labeled. Corrective action was taken.
  
  
• There was an accumulation of limescale on the inside of a dishmachine.
• A container of of food was stored on the floor in a dry storage area.
• A ceiling vent above the cook line was soiled.
• An employee with no hair restraint was preparing food.
• Walk-in cooler shelves were soiled.
  
  
• The restaurant met inspection standards.

Tacos Hidalgo (food truck), 7251 N. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota

• No sanitizer of any kind was available for warewashing. An inspector directed that only single-service items be used to serve food to customers until sanitizer was available for warewashing. Hot water at an employee handwash sink did not reach 100 degrees.
• Hot water a three-compartment sink did not reach 100 degrees.
• A manager lacked proof of food manager certification.
• No test kit was at hand to measure the strength of sanitizer in use for warewashing.
• No soap was provided at a handwash sink.
• No handwashing sign was provided at a handwash sink used by food employees.
• A follow-up inspection was required.

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.

This story was originally published January 15, 2020 at 5:00 AM.